This Hubble Space Telescope image of NGC 4900 portrays a bright star seemingly overlapping the spiral galaxy. Both celestial objects are located in the constellation Virgo from Earth’s perspective, yet vast distances separate them. | Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, S. J. Smartt, C. Kilpatrick
A newly released image from the Hubble Space Telescope showcases a spiral galaxy and a luminous star, both situated within the Virgo constellation. Despite their visual proximity, these cosmic entities are separated by immense distances.
Optical Illusion Captured by Hubble
The striking image from the Hubble Space Telescope presents a fascinating optical illusion. The spiral galaxy, scientifically cataloged as NGC 4900, appears to share its location with a radiant star.
The star, distinguished by prominent diffraction spikes, resides in our own Milky Way galaxy and is located approximately 7,109 light-years from Earth. In contrast, the galaxy NGC 4900 is situated roughly 45 million light-years away.
Acquisition ΨΉΨ¨Ψ± Two Hubble Instruments Across Decades
The featured star and galaxy are not the sole elements separated by distance within this image. The composite image itself is the result of observations from two distinct Hubble Space Telescope instruments, employed twenty years apart, according to a NASA statement.
Data was collected using both the Advanced Camera for Surveys, installed in 2002 and still operational, and the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2, which was installed in 1993 and subsequently removed in 2009.
The complete frame image of spiral galaxy NGC 4900 as observed by the Hubble Space Telescope over two separate observation periods spanning more than 20 years. | Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, S. J. Smartt, C. Kilpatrick
Scientific Aims of Hubble’s Deep Space Study
The data acquisition served two distinct scientific investigations. Both initiatives concentrated on enhancing the understanding of stellar death events of massive stars. One study specifically targeted locations of prior supernovae, such as NGC 4900, to evaluate the progenitor stars’ masses and gain insights into the interactions between these powerful phenomena and their environments.
The second research program established a basis for future supernova studies by amassing images of over 150 nearby galaxies. Upon the detection of a supernova in one of these galaxies, researchers can utilize these baseline images for comparison. Identifying features in pre-explosion imagery can contribute to understanding the mechanisms, timing, and causes of supernovae.