Galactic refurbishment
The smudge of stars at the centre of this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image is a galaxy known as UGC 5797. UGC 5797 is an emission line galaxy, meaning that it is currently undergoing active star formation. The result is a stellar population that is constantly being refurbished as massive bright blue stars form. Galaxies with prolific star formation are not only veiled in a blue tint, but are key to the continuation of a stellar cycle.
In this image UGC 5797 appears in front of a background of spiral galaxies. Spiral galaxies have copious amounts of dust and gas — the main ingredient for stars — and therefore often also belong to the class of emission line galaxies.
Spiral galaxies have disc-like shapes that drastically vary in appearance depending on the angle at which they are observed. The collection of spiral galaxies in this frame exhibits this attribute acutely: Some are viewed face-on, revealing the structure of the spiral arms, while the two in the bottom left are seen edge-on, appearing as plain streaks in the sky. There are many spiral galaxies, with varying colours and at different angles sprinkled across this image — just take a look.
A version of this image was entered into the Hubble’s Hidden Treasures image processing competition by Luca Limatola.
Credit:ESA/Hubble & NASA
Acknowledgement: Luca Limatola
About the Image
Id: | potw1517a |
Type: | Observation |
Release date: | 27 April 2015, 10:00 |
Size: | 4008 x 1960 px |
About the Object
Image Formats
Coordinates
Position (RA): | 10 39 25.02 |
Position (Dec): | 1° 43' 8.08" |
Field of view: | 3.33 x 1.63 arcminutes |
Orientation: | North is 33.9° left of vertical |
Colours & filters
Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
---|---|---|
Optical V | 606 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
Infrared I | 814 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |