Astronomers utilizing the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have captured astonishing new images of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 4535.
This Hubble image depicts spiral galaxy NGC 4535, situated approximately 52.6 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. Image credits: NASA / ESA / Hubble / F. Belfiore / J. Lee / PHANGS-HST team.
NGC4535 is located in the Virgo constellation, roughly 52.6 million light-years distant.
This galaxy, also referred to as LEDA 41812 and UGC 7727, spans about 115,000 light-years.
First observed by German-British astronomer William Herschel on December 28, 1785.
When viewed through smaller telescopes, NGC 4535 appears hazy and ethereal, prompting prominent amateur astronomer Leland S. Copeland to name it the “Lost Galaxy” in the 1950s.
“This galaxy is so faint when seen through small telescopes that it has been nicknamed the ‘Lost Galaxy,'” noted Hubble astronomers.
“With its 2.4-meter-diameter mirror, Hubble is ideally equipped to observe faint galaxies like NGC 4535 and reveal features such as its magnificent spiral arms and central bar of stars.”
NGC 4535 ranks among the largest galaxies in the Virgo Cluster, a massive assembly of 2,000 galaxies located near the prominent elliptical galaxy Messier 87.
The nearly circular shape of the galaxy suggests that we are viewing it almost face-on.
Its center features a distinct bar structure with a dust lane that sharply curves before branching into the spiral arm.
“The young star clusters of NGC 4535 are vividly visible in the Hubble images, scattered throughout the galaxy’s spiral arms,” the astronomers stated.
“Many clusters of bright blue stars are enveloped by glowing pink clouds.”
“These clouds, known as H II regions, indicate that this galaxy is home to particularly young, hot, and massive stars emitting high-energy radiation.”
“Massive stars significantly impact their environment by heating the clouds they are born from, producing powerful stellar winds, and ultimately exploding as supernovae.”
The new Hubble images include data from an observational program cataloging around 50,000 H II regions in nearby star-forming galaxies.
“Previous images of NGC 4535 were released in 2021,” the researchers mentioned.
“Both the 2021 images and the latest ones include observations from around the globe. The PHANGS program aims to understand the relationship between young stars and cold gas.”
“Today’s images provide a new perspective on NGC 4535 by highlighting the bright red glow of the nebula surrounding the massive star during its initial few million years of existence.”
Source: www.sci.news
