Tag Archives: constellation

Webb Telescope Explores a Lenticular Galaxy Cluster in the Leo Constellation

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Webb astronomers have unveiled a breathtaking image captured by the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, showcasing MACS J1149.5+2223 (MACS J1149), a cosmic collection of hundreds of galaxies situated about 5 billion light-years from Earth in the constellation Leo. The latest images not only highlight the cluster’s brilliant galaxies but also illustrate how their immense gravitational forces uniquely affect the fabric of space-time.

The stunning image of the galaxy cluster MACS J1149.5+2223. Image credits: NASA / ESA / CSA / Webb / C. Willott, National Research Council Canada / R. Tripodi, INAF-Astronomical Observatory of Rome.

The latest Webb image of MACS J1149 dramatically showcases light from background galaxies, which is bent and magnified in a remarkable phenomenon known as gravitational lensing. This creates elongated arcs and distorted shapes, revealing the mass of both clusters.

“The immense gravity of this galaxy cluster does more than hold the galaxies adrift in the universe,” the Webb astronomers explained in a statement.

“As light from galaxies beyond the cluster travels toward our telescope over billions of years, its trajectory through space-time is warped by the gravitational forces of the intervening galaxies.”

This gravitational lensing effect is evident throughout the image of MACS J1149, with galaxies appearing stretched into narrow streaks and others morphing into unusual shapes. A prime example of gravitational lensing can be seen near the image’s center, just below the prominent white galaxy.

In this area, a galaxy with spiral arms has been transformed into a shape resembling a pink jellyfish. This peculiar galaxy once harbored the farthest single star ever identified and a supernova that appeared four times simultaneously.

This remarkable image of MACS J1149 is part of the Canadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS) program.

“This program employs Webb’s advanced instruments to explore the evolution of low-mass galaxies in the early Universe, shedding light on their star formation, dust content, and chemical makeup,” the astronomers stated.

The data collected will also assist researchers in studying the epoch of reionization, when the first stars and galaxies illuminated the universe, mapping mass distributions in galaxy clusters, and understanding how star formation diminishes within cluster environments.

Source: www.sci.news

Hubble’s Discovery: Dwarf Spiral Galaxy Found in the Coma Constellation

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Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have captured stunning images of the dwarf spiral galaxy IC 3476 in the constellation of Coma.

This Hubble image shows IC 3476, a dwarf spiral galaxy located 54 million light-years away in the constellation Coma. This image consists of observations made by Hubble's Altitude Survey Camera (ACS) in the near-infrared and optical parts of the spectrum. This is based on data obtained through his two filters. Color is obtained by assigning different hues to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / M. Sun.

IC 3476 It is located in the constellation Coma, approximately 54 million light-years from Earth.

This galaxy is first discovered It was proposed by German astronomer Arnold Schwassmann on November 22, 1900.

IC 3476, also known as IRAS 12301+1419 or LEDA 41608, is a member of the Virgo Cluster.

On the other hand, new Hubble images of the galaxy don't look quite as dramatic. The actual physical events occurring in IC 3476 are highly energetic.

“IC 3476 is undergoing a process known as ram pressure stripping, which promotes unusually high levels of star formation within the region of the galaxy itself,” the Hubble astronomers said.

“We tend to associate the letter 'ram' with the acronym RAM, which refers to random access memory in computing.”

“But ram pressure has a perfectly clear definition in physics: it is the pressure exerted on an object by the overall resistance of the fluid as it moves through some form of fluid.”

“If the entire galaxy is under ram pressure, then the galaxy is a 'celestial body', and the intergalactic medium or the intracluster medium (dust and gas that permeates the space between galaxies, in the latter case the intergalactic space) becomes a “celestial body”. fluid'. “

“Lamb pressure stripping occurs when gas is stripped from a galaxy by ram pressure,” the astronomers explained.

“Gas is absolutely key to star formation, so removing this gas could lead to reduced levels of star formation or even a complete cessation.”

“But the ram's pressure could also compress other parts of the galaxy, which could actually promote star formation.”

“This is what appears to be happening in IC 3476: no star formation appears to be occurring at the edges of the galaxy, which are bearing the brunt of the ram pressure separation, but in deeper regions of the galaxy, the rate of star formation slows down. It seems to be clearly above average. ”

Source: www.sci.news

The Hubble Telescope uncovers countless faraway galaxies in the constellation Cetus

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New infrared images taken with wide field camera 3 (WFC3) onboard the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows dozens of galaxies in the constellation Cetus, including SDSS J020941.27+001558.4, SDSS J020941.23+001600.7, and HerS J020941.1+001557. Masu.

This Hubble image shows a variety of distant galaxies in the constellation Cetus. Most galaxies are very small, but there are also some larger galaxies and some stars that can be seen in detail. At its center is an elliptical galaxy with a bright nucleus and a wide disk. A reddish, distorted ring of light surrounds its center, thicker on one side. Small galaxies intersect the rings as bright spots. Image credits: NASA / ESA / Hubble / H. Nayyeri / L. Marchetti / J. Lowenthal.

“What are we looking at when we study this image?” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.

“A distant galaxy 19.5 billion light-years away from Earth? Or a much closer (relatively) tiny glowing red galaxy 2.7 billion light-years away? Or a third galaxy that appears to be much closer to the second galaxy? Is not it?”

“The answer, perhaps confusingly, is that we are considering all three.”

“More precisely, we see light emitted from all of these galaxies, even though the farthest galaxy from Earth is directly behind the first.”

“In fact, it's that very alignment that makes the particular visuals of this image possible.”

“The bright spot in the center of this image is one of our closest galaxies, known by a long (but informative) name. SDSS J020941.27+001558.4,” they said.

“Another bright spot above it appears to be intersected by a curved crescent of light, SDSS J020941.23+001600.7, is the second closest galaxy. ”

“And finally, that curved crescent of light itself is 'lensed' light from a very distant galaxy. Girlfriend J020941.1+001557”

Her J020941.1+001557 light was bent by the gravity of the foreground galaxy and expanded into a circular shape called an Einstein ring.

“Einstein rings occur when light from a very distant object bends around a large intermediate object,” the astronomers said.

“This is possible because the fabric of the universe itself, spacetime, is bent by mass, and so is light traveling through spacetime.”

“This is too subtle to observe at a local level, but when dealing with the curvature of light on large astronomical scales, for example when light emitted from a galaxy bends around another galaxy or galaxy cluster, , may become clearly observable.”

“When the lensed object and the lensed object are aligned in such a way, the result is a unique Einstein ring shape, with a complete or partial ring around the lensed object, depending on the precision of the alignment. A circle of light appears.

“This partial Einstein ring is of particular interest because it was identified thanks to a citizen science project. space warp — means that the public made the discovery of this object possible. ”

Source: www.sci.news