(ORDO NEWS) — The Hubble Space Telescope mission has released yet another amazing image taken by this “galaxy hunter”. It depicts a galaxy that looks like a giant jellyfish.
The image was published by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. It depicts a “jellyfish galaxy” officially known as JO201.
It is located in the constellation of Cetus, named after the sea monster from ancient Greek mythology.
In a word, it is no coincidence that the “marine” theme used in the name of the constellation was also reflected in the nickname of the galaxy.
“Galaxy-jellyfish” in the picture really visually resembles the inhabitants of the deep sea. She seemed to be suspended in the inky-black thickness of the cosmic ocean.
Even its “tentacles” are visible, which seem to reach for the surrounding stars. However, astronomers have a simple explanation for the nature of these “tentacles”.
“As jellyfish galaxies move through intergalactic space, the gas is slowly escaping, forming trails that resemble tentacles or tendrils illuminated by starburst clumps,” the photo release says.
“These blue tendrils are visible below the core of this galaxy, which gives she looks like a jellyfish, with tendrils extending beyond the bright disk of the galaxy’s core.”
The data from the Hubble telescope will help scientists gain new insights into the nature of these jellyfish galaxies.
As part of their research, they measure and compare the sizes, masses and ages of clusters of stars that are located in the “tentacles” of such galaxies.
Astronomers hope this will help better understand the connection between the process that creates the tendrils of jellyfish galaxies and the process of star formation.
We add that the image was obtained using the WFC3 wide-angle camera, the capabilities of which made it possible to capture the amazing galactic “seascape”.
This camera is considered a versatile instrument capable of “capturing” images in both ultraviolet and infrared and visible wavelengths.
It is no coincidence that the WFC3 camera produced some of the brightest and most impressive images sent to Earth by the Hubble telescope.
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