NASA has unwrapped a celestial gift just in time for the holidays – an image of galaxy UGC 8091 that resembles a ‘glittering snow globe’. This galaxy, 7 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo, adds a touch of cosmic festivity.
NASA unveils a festive image of the snowball galaxy UGC 8091.
Unique shape of UGC 8091
Unlike known spiral or elliptical galaxies, UGC 8091 boasts an irregular, scattered shape. It belongs to the category of irregular galaxies, making up a quarter of the observed galaxies. The lack of a defined structure is the result of turbulent formation events, including interactions and collisions.
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Dwarf galaxy
UGC 8091 is not only irregular, but also a dwarf galaxy, much smaller than giants like the Milky Way. Hubble, armed with its Wide Field Camera 3 and Advanced Camera for Surveys, is investigating these dwarf galaxies to understand their role in the early years of the universe.
Dwarf galaxies like UGC 8091 played a key role a few billion years ago, after the Big Bang. Astronomers believe they contributed to the reheating of hydrogen as the universe expanded. This holiday image serves as a snapshot of cosmic history written by these ancient celestial entities.
Also read | NASA’s James Webb telescope took a close-up image of Uranus’ rings, leaving netizens in awe
Recording process
The image is the result of data collected from 2006 to 2021 using different light filters. Red spots indicate excited hydrogen molecules in newly formed stars, while other lights represent older stars. It’s akin to catching a twinkling tangle of lights in the cosmic darkness.
Fun with billions of stars
UGC 8091 hosts a billion stars, each contributing to a breathtaking visual spectacle.
Hubble’s observations aim to reveal the secrets of the composition of dwarf galaxies and their evolutionary connection with more modern galaxies. This cosmic research deepens the understanding of the intricate interplay between ancient and modern galactic entities.
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Source: newstars.edu.vn