Science & Technology
The powerful orbital telescope explored the NGC 2903 galaxy and the European Space Agency (ESA) released the dazzling image this week. The stunning spiral is located a staggering 30 million light-years away in the Leo constellation.
The photo captures several star-forming regions which shine with a pinkish glow.
The snappily named galaxy was probed as part of the telescope's giant survey of roughly 145 disc galaxies. The study hopes to shed light on the relationship between galaxies and the black holes that lurk in their midst.
The space agency couldn't help but wax lyrical about spiral galaxies in a statement accompanying the release of the image: "These limelight-hogging celestial objects combine whirling, pinwheeling arms with scatterings of sparkling stars, glowing bursts of gas, and dark, weaving lanes of cosmic dust, creating truly awesome scenes," it said.
Nearly three-quarters of all galaxies in the universe are spiral shaped. The galaxies' distinguishing features include arms that are full of solar systems and other features. Our Milky Way galaxy was also thought to be a spiral until the 1960s, when it was reclassified as a barred spiral. This means it is essentially a spiral galaxy with a distinct center bar as well as spiral arms.
Reader Comments
"i wonder why the never point it back at earth"- very likely wouldn't be able to focus on it considering it's a telescope - made for looking at things really far away.
"also,a stunning pic of the Hubble itself. Must be dangerous to take one satellite in so close to take that pic eh"- how do you know it is close? Could have been taken from miles away, using i dunno, something telescopic? However, most likely taken by astronauts when they were up repairing the satellite on one of the several occasions they have done so - [Link]
Regular orbital boosts are also needed by the Hubble Space Telescope, though on a longer time scale, due to its much higher altitude. However, orbital decay is also a limiting factor to the length of time the Hubble can go without a maintenance rendezvous, the most recent performed successfully by STS-125, with space shuttle Atlantis launching May 11, 2009
i wonder why the never point it back at earth
also,a stunning pic of the Hubble itself
Must be dangerous to take one satellite in so close to take that pic eh
Nasa..National Academy of Space Actors