Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have produced a spectacular image of the spiral galaxy NGC 4900.
This Hubble image shows NGC 4900, a spiral galaxy approximately 45 million light-years away in the constellation of Virgo. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / S.J. Smartt / C. Kilpatrick.
NGC 4900 is located some 45 million light-years away in the constellation of Virgo.
Also known as LEDA 44797 or IRAS 12580+0246, this spiral galaxy has a diameter of 66,000 light-years.
NGC 4900 was discovered by the German-British astronomer William Herschel on April 30, 1786.
The galaxy is a member of the NGC 4753 group, which is a member of the Virgo II Groups.
The new image of NGC 4900 was made from separate exposures taken in the visible and near-infrared regions of the spectrum with both Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2).
“The data were taken more than 20 years apart for two different observing programs — a real testament to Hubble’s long scientific lifetime,” the Hubble astronomers said.
“Both programs aimed to understand the demise of massive stars.”
“In one, researchers studied the sites of past supernovae, aiming to estimate the masses of the stars that exploded and investigate how supernovae interact with their surroundings.”
“NGC 4900 was selected for study because it hosted a supernova named SN 1999br.”
“In the other program, researchers laid the groundwork for studying future supernovae by collecting images of more than 150 nearby galaxies.”
“After a supernova is detected in one of these galaxies, researchers can examine these images, searching for a star at the location of the supernova.”
“Identifying a supernova progenitor star in pre-explosion images gives valuable information about how, when and why supernovae occur.”
