Hubble Telescope clicks a cosmic squid glittering in darkness
Hubble Space Telescope image features the spiral galaxy Messier 77, also known as the Squid Galaxy. (Photo: Hubble)
Early astronomers, limited by the telescopes of their era, mistook the galaxy for a nebula or even a star cluster-a misconception that persisted for over a century until the true nature of spiral nebulae as distant galaxies was uncovered.The galaxy's recent nickname, the 'Squid Galaxy,' stems from its extended, filamentary structures that curl around its disk, resembling the tentacles of a squid. These tentacle-like features are actually spiral arms laced with dust lanes and star-forming regions, their pink and red hues glowing in Hubble's composite image.advertisementThe galaxy's intensely bright center, home to a supermassive black hole, further accentuates its aquatic silhouette.This latest image builds on Hubble's 2013 observations, incorporating new filters and updated processing techniques to reveal unprecedented details.
It sits 45 million light-years away in the constellation Cetus (The Whale). (Photo: Nasa)
Astronomers can now study the galaxy's dynamic core, energetic star nurseries, and the interplay between dust, gas, and gravity with greater clarity.Messier 77's transformation from a misunderstood nebula to a cosmic icon shows how advances in technology continually reshape our understanding of the universe. With each new image, Hubble not only deepens scientific insight but also inspires awe, reminding us of the beauty and mystery that still glitters in the darkness.
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