Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have captured a striking new photo of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 2566.
A prominent bar of stars stretches across the center of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 2566, and spiral arms emerge from each end of the bar. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / D. Thilker.
NGC 2566 is located approximately 76 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Puppis.
This galaxy was discovered on March 6, 1785 by the German-British astronomer William Herschel.
Otherwise known as ESO 495-3, LEDA 23303 or UGCA 138, it is a member of the PGC 80593 group, a gathering of at least 16 large galaxies.
“Because NGC 2566 appears tilted from our perspective, its disk takes on an almond shape, giving the galaxy the appearance of a cosmic eye,” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.
“As NGC 2566 gazes at us, we gaze right back, using Hubble to survey the galaxy’s star clusters and star-forming regions.”
“The Hubble data are 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 these data, the astronomers will measure the ages of NGC 2566’s stars, helping to piece together the timeline of the galaxy’s star formation and the exchange of gas between star-forming clouds and stars themselves.
“Several other astronomical observatories have examined NGC 2566, including the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope,” the researchers said.
“The Webb data complement this Hubble image, adding a view of NGC 2566’s warm, glowing dust to Hubble’s stellar portrait.”
“At the long-wavelength end of the electromagnetic spectrum, NGC 2566 has also been observed by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA).”
“ALMA is a network of 66 radio telescopes that work together as one to capture detailed images of the clouds of gas in which stars form.”