Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have captured stunning images of NGC 4951, a spiral galaxy with an active galactic center in the constellation Virgo.
This Hubble image shows spiral galaxy NGC 4951 about 49 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. Image credit: NASA / ESA / D. Thilker, Johns Hopkins University / Gladys Kober, NASA and Catholic University of America.
NGC 4951 It is located in the constellation Virgo, about 49 million light years away from Earth.
Also known as AGC 530015, IRAS 13025-0613, or LEDA 45246, this galaxy has a diameter of approximately 65,000 light-years.
it was discovered It was announced on April 17, 1784 by German-born British astronomer William Herschel.
“NGC 4951 is Seyfert GalaxyThis means it is a very energetic type of galaxy with an active galactic nucleus (AGN),” said Hubble astronomers.
“But Seyfert galaxies are unique because, unlike other types of AGNs, the galaxies themselves are still clearly visible. Different types of AGNs are so bright that it is difficult to observe the actual galaxies in which they reside. It’s almost impossible.”
“AGNs like NGC 4951 are powered by supermassive black holes,” they explained.
“As matter swirls into the black hole, it generates radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, causing the AGN to shine brightly.”
“Hubble helped prove the presence of supermassive black holes at the centers of nearly every galaxy in the universe,” the astronomers said.
“We only theorized about its existence until 1990, when telescopes were launched into low Earth orbit.”
“This mission will verify the existence of black holes by observing their undeniable effects, such as the jets of material ejected from them and the disks of gas and dust that rotate at extremely high speeds around them. did.”
The new observations of NGC 4951 were made to provide valuable data to astronomers studying how galaxies evolve, with a particular focus on the process of star formation.
“Hubble collects this information, which is combined with NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observations to support the JWST Treasury program,” the researchers said.
“Treasury's program collects observations focused on the potential to solve multiple scientific questions and enable a variety of compelling scientific investigations in a single, consistent data set. ”
Source: www.sci.news
