The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shot this image of a barred spiral galaxy called NGC 1087.
NGC 1087 is a barred spiral galaxy located some 80 million light-years away in the constellation of Cetus.
Also known as IRAS 02438-0042, LEDA 10496 and UGC 2245, it has a diameter of about 87,000 light-years, a very small nucleus and a very short stellar bar.
Unlike most barred spiral galaxies, the galaxy’s bar has some new star-formation taking place.
“The galaxy’s dust lanes, seen in dark red, help define its spiral structure,” Hubble astronomers said.
“Its stellar bar — the elongated, bright-white structure at the galaxy’s center — is also shorter compared to other barred galaxies.”
“Typically, in barred galaxies, the gravity of the center pulls in large quantities of gas, causing a burst of star formation followed by a slow decay.”
“Uniquely, NGC 1087 shows signs of new star formation, making it of special interest to scientists.”
NGC 1087 was discovered on October 9, 1785 by the German-born British astronomer William Herschel.
It lies near the M77 galaxy group, a small gathering of galaxies that also includes NGC 936, NGC 1055, and NGC 1090.
However, because of its distance, NGC 1087 probably is not an actual member of this group.
“NGC 1087 sits just south of the celestial equator, making it visible from both hemispheres,” the astronomers said.
They observed NGC 1087 to study the connection between young stars and cold gas, and especially to determine what happens to gaseous regions after stars are formed within them.
“In 1995, astronomers discovered a Type II supernova within this galaxy,” they said.
“Type II supernovae occur when a massive star uses all of its nuclear fuel and its iron core collapses, then explodes.”
“Named SN 1995V, it is the only supernova ever seen in this galaxy.”
“In the new ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light image from Hubble, the dark red streaks are cold molecular gas, the raw…
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