Astronomers utilizing the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have captured stunningly detailed images of the asymmetrical Spiral Galaxy Messier 96.
This Hubble image illustrates Messier 96, a spiral galaxy situated approximately 34 million light years away in the constellation Leo. Image credits: NASA/ESA/Hubble/F. Belfiore/D. Calzetti.
Messier 96, or NGC 3368, is a spiral galaxy found in the constellation Leo, roughly 34 million light years from Earth.
It was first identified by French astronomer Pierre Messier on March 20, 1781, and was included in Charles Messier’s catalog of astronomical objects just four days later.
This galaxy, also referred to as Leda 32192 or M96, extends approximately 100,000 light years in diameter—similar to the size of the Milky Way—and boasts an estimated mass of 80 billion solar masses.
Messier 96 is a prominent member of the Leo I Galaxy Group, commonly known as the M96 group.
This group includes Messier 95, Messier 105, and a variety of other galaxies, representing the nearest collection that encompasses both bright helical and bright elliptical galaxies.
Messier 96 appears as a massive vortex of shimmering gas, with dark dust swirling within, flowing toward its nucleus.
The galaxy exhibits significant asymmetry, with its dust and gas distributed unevenly across its weak spiral arms, and its nucleus is not precisely at the galactic center.
Additionally, its arms are asymmetrical and are believed to have been shaped by gravitational influences from neighboring galaxies within the Leo I group.
“The gravitational forces exerted by neighboring galaxies could be responsible for the unequal distribution of gas and dust in Messier 96, as well as the asymmetrical spiral arms and the positioning of its core outside the center,” stated Hubble astronomers in a press release.
“The recently released Hubble images clearly showcase this asymmetrical structure, enhanced by observations in ultraviolet and optical light.”
“Previous images of Messier 96 were released in 2015 and 2018,” they noted.
“Each new image contributes additional data and reveals a stunning, scientifically informative view of the galaxy.”
“This latest version provides a fresh perspective on star formation in Messier 96.”
“The pink gas bubbles depicted in this image highlight the star-forming rings at the galaxy’s edges, enveloping a hot, young, massive star.”
“These new stars remain encased in the gas clouds from which they originated.”
“The fresh data incorporated for the first time in this image will aid in researching how stars are born within vast dusty gas clouds, how dust influences starlight, and the effects of stellar activity on their environment.”
Source: www.sci.news
