Sticky scroll Milky Way “NGC 2903” (Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, L. Ho, J. Lee and the PHANGS-HST Team)
This is about 30 million light-years away in the direction of “Leo”The Milky Way Galaxy “NGC 2903”is. What is a barred spiral galaxy?Spiral galaxy with a rod-shaped structure in the centerThat thing.About two-thirds of the entire spiral galaxy is said to have a rod-like structure, and we live in it.Milky Way GalaxyIs also classified as a barred spiral galaxy.
Extends left and right toward the imageRod structureAnd the central part is shining brightly because many stars are gathered, and blue stars are conspicuous around itSwirl armIs spreading.The dark clouds that cover the swirl arms are rich in dustDust lane(Dark Lane), hydrogen gas ionized by the ultraviolet rays emitted by young stars glows red here and there.HII fieldIs distributed.Light and dark, blue and red contrastHowever, it seems to enhance the beauty of NGC 2903, which shines like a jewel.
This image is“Hubble”Space telescope observation device“High-performance camera for surveying (ACS)”When“Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3)”Hubble has photographed NGC 2903 several times, based on the observation data of.For example, the following image is before ACS and WFC3 are installed2001NS,“Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2)”It is a figure of NGC 2903 photographed using.
“NGC 2903” released in 2001. Taken with Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) (Credit: ESA, NASA)
1990The original Hubble Space Telescope launched inThe primary mirror was slightly distortedDue to a total of five Space Shuttle service missions and software updates, it was unable to perform as planned.Performance gradually improvesI went on. WFPC2First service mission in 1993It was installed inACSteethyear 2002NS,WFC3teethLast service mission of 2009It is an observation device installed in place of WFPC2.
According to the European Space Agency (ESA), WFPC2Visible and infrared wavelengthsI observed NGC 2903 using the, but in the opening image taken 20 years later,UV wavelengthObservation data usingImage resolution also improvedIt is said that it is doing.Compared to the image acquired by WFPC2, which was once the main camera of the Hubble Space Telescope, the image at the beginningFiner in a wider wavelength bandThe appearance of NGC 2903 is captured. It can be said that this is the result of the long life of the Space Shuttle, which enables maintenance after launch, and the Hubble Space Telescope, which celebrated its 31st anniversary this year.
The opening image was created from the observation data of visible light, near infrared rays, and ultraviolet rays by the Hubble Space Telescope ACS and WFC3, and this week’s one of the Hubble Space Telescope “Hubble Experiences Déjà vu” It was released by ESA on October 25, 2021.
Related: The fate of a small galaxy led by a beautiful spiral galaxy. Interacting galaxy “Arp 86”
Image Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, L. Ho, J. Lee and the PHANGS-HST Team
Source: ESA / Hubble
Sentence / Takehiro Matsumura
