Latest news with #SombreroGalaxy
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Space photo of the week: James Webb telescope peeks under the brim of a 'peculiar' Sombrero
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Quick facts What it is: The Sombrero Galaxy (M104), a peculiar galaxy Where it is: 30 million light-years distant between the Virgo and Corvus constellations When it was shared: June 3, 2025 Sequels are never as good as the originals, right? That certainly doesn't apply to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), whose latest image adds a new dimension of data to its spectacular 2024 image of the enigmatic Sombrero Galaxy. Galaxies are a mix of stars, gas and dust. How these three ingredients interact explains how galaxies evolve. However, to image all three ingredients requires shooting in different wavelengths of light. Cue JWST, which is able to collect longer, redder wavelengths of infrared light than optical telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope. In December 2024, JWST shot the Sombrero in the mid-infrared for the first time, using its Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) camera to reveal an elegant structure with a smooth inner disk. Related: 42 jaw-dropping James Webb Space Telescope images Now comes part two, this time using Webb's NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) instrument. The new data reveals light from stars that were previously blocked by dust. In this new image, the dust glows, revealing clouds of interstellar matter as well as red giant stars. While Webb's instruments pick up red giants in both the near-infrared and mid-infrared wavelengths — making them stand out clearly in the images — hotter blue stars emit light mostly in the visible and near-infrared spectrum, causing them to fade from view in Webb's images at longer wavelengths. MORE SPACE PHOTOS —Pink 'raindrops' on the sun captured in greatest detail ever —Violent galaxies seen 'jousting' near the dawn of time —Cotton candy clouds shine in one of Hubble's most beautiful images ever The galaxy also appears to have a warped inner disk and contain about 2,000 globular clusters — balls of ancient stars — in its halo. Since these clusters are chemically different from their galactic companions, it's probable that the Sombrero has a chaotic past, having merged with several smaller galaxies in its history. The new NIRCam data adds another layer of detail to a galaxy first documented 244 years ago. Originally observed in 1781 by the French astronomer Pierre Méchain, the Sombrero galaxy (also known as Messier 104 or M104) has long intrigued scientists due to its distinct, edge-on shape and luminous central bulge. Most galaxies' structures can be categorized as spiral, elliptical or irregular, but the Sombrero is classed as peculiar. For more sublime space images, check out our Space Photo of the Week archives.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
See it: Hubble Space Telescope celebrates 35 years of making ground-breaking discoveries
On April 25, 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was deployed into Earth's orbit, beginning a decades-long venture into making ground-breaking discoveries and capturing images of the universe. The Hubble was the first major U.s. telescope in space and orbits some 320 miles above Earth's surface. The telescope has spent the last 35 years making 1.6 million observations of over 53,000 objects in space, according to the European Space Agency. According to NASA, Hubble can see objects in space with an angular size of 0.05 arcseconds, which is similar to being in Washington, D.C. and seeing a pair of fireflies in Tokyo that are less than 10 feet apart. From planets to nebulae to galaxies, the targets observed and imaged by the school bus-sized telescope have run the gamut. How The Telescope Became Our Window Into Our Universe Data from Hubble has been used to create stunning images over the past 35 years, such as the ones below: For example, recently the European Space Agency shared a new image of a fan-favorite Hubble target known as the "Sombrero Galaxy." Hubble Telescope Provides Fresh Look At Stunning 'Sombrero Galaxy' Located about 30 million light-years away in the Virgo constellation, the galaxy appears to have a rounded crown in its center and a broad brim, similar to that of its namesake. Using new processing techniques and data from Hubble, the galaxy is revealed in greater detail with more background stars and galaxies. Last year, Hubble showed off how a star system can resemble a volcanic eruption. Hubble Telescope Captures Stunning Images Of Star System Reminiscent Of A Volcano From the very beginning, Hubble revolutionized how space could be studied. The side-by-side image below includes the first image the European Space Agency's Faint Object Camera aboard NASA's Hubble Space Telescope took soon after it was deployed into orbit, along with an image of the same part of the sky with a ground-based telescope. "Since its launch and deployment in April 1990, Hubble's mission has rewritten astronomy textbooks with its powerful observations of our universe," Nasa said. Missions performed by astronauts and robots have extended the telescope's operations well beyond its scheduled lifespan. NASA estimates that the telescope could be in operation well into the 2030s, when it is expected to re-enter Earth's article source: See it: Hubble Space Telescope celebrates 35 years of making ground-breaking discoveries
