The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured its first images since changing to an alternate operating mode that uses just a single gyroscope to help control and orient the telescope.
This Hubble Space Telescope image shows NGC 1546, a spiral galaxy about 52.5 million light-years away in the constellation Doradus. Image courtesy of NASA / ESA / Hubblr / STScI / David Thilker, JHU.
Hubble I input it On May 24, 2024, we will pause science observations and go into safe mode due to ongoing gyroscope issues.
Over the past six months, the gyroscope has frequently returned inaccurate measurements, causing multiple interruptions to science operations.
This allowed Hubble astronomers to transition from a three-gyroscope operating mode to observing with only one gyroscope, allowing for more consistent science observations and preserving the other working gyroscope for future use.
“Hubble’s new images of the spectacular galaxy NGC 1546 prove that the telescope’s new, more stable pointing mode is a complete success,” said Dr. Jennifer Weissman, Hubble’s senior project scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
“We’re poised for many years of discovery to come, looking at everything from our solar system to exoplanets to distant galaxies.”
“Hubble plays a vital role in NASA’s astronomy toolkit.”
NGC 1546 It is a spiral galaxy 52.5 million light years Beyond the constellation of Dorado.
Also known as ESO 157-12, IRAS 04134-5611, and LEDA 14723, the galaxy is approximately 50,000 light years Across.
It was discovered on December 5, 1834 by British astronomer John Herschel.
“The orientation of the galaxy makes a backlit dust band highly visible some distance above the galaxy’s nucleus,” said Dr Weissman and his colleagues.
“This dust absorbs light from the core, making the core red and the dust appear rusty brown.”
“The core itself glows brightly with a yellowish light, indicating that it is an old population of stars.”
“Bright blue regions of active star formation shine through the dust.”
“You can also see several background galaxies, including an edge-on spiral galaxy just to the left of NGC 1546.”
A color image of NGC 1546 can be found at Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WCF3).
“The WCF3 instrument captured this image as part of a joint observing program between the Hubble Space Telescope and the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope,” the astronomers said.
“The program also uses data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), which allows us to look at how stars form and evolve in great detail and at many wavelengths.”
“This image represents one of the first observations made with Hubble since transitioning to a new pointing mode that will allow for more consistent science observations.”
“We expect the Hubble Space Telescope will conduct most of its science observations in this new mode and continue its groundbreaking observations of the universe.”
Source: www.sci.news
