This image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows the spiral galaxy NGC 2566. -ESA/NASA
Dec. 30 () –
This image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows the spiral galaxy NGC 2566, which is located 76 million light years awayin the constellation of Puppis.
A prominent bar of stars extends across the center of this galaxy, and spiral arms emerge from each end of the bar. Because NGC 2566 appears tilted from our perspective, its disk becomes almond-shaped, giving the galaxy the appearance of a cosmic eye.
According to NASA, When NGC 2566 appears to stare back at us, astronomers stare back, using Hubble to study the galaxy’s star clusters and star-forming regions. Hubble data is especially valuable for studying stars that are just a few million years old; These stars are bright at the ultraviolet and visible wavelengths to which Hubble is sensitive.
Using this data, the researchers can measure the ages of the stars of NGC 2566which helps reconstruct the timeline of the galaxy’s star formation and gas exchange between the star-forming clouds and the stars themselves.
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