The Hubble Space Telescope has provided astronomers and space enthusiasts alike with a mesmerizing view of a lenticular galaxy 60 million light-years from Earth.
Nestled in the constellation Virgo, the galaxy NGC 4753 looks like a bright ball of light encased in a translucent pistachio shell. Hubble’s image presents an edge-on perspective, offering a unique look at the galaxy’s structure.
NGC 4753 is a prominent member of the NGC 4753 Group — part of the larger Virgo II Cloud, first discovered by the astronomer William Herschel in 1784. The cloud contains some 100 galaxies and galaxy clusters, marking a bustling region of space activity.
Scientists believe NGC 4753 was shaped by a galactic merger event that occurred about 1.3 billion years ago with a nearby dwarf galaxy. This tumultuous past is evidenced by the dust lanes encircling its nucleus, hinting at the complex cosmic forces at work.
The galaxy’s mass is thought to reside primarily in a slightly flattened spherical halo, composed largely of dark matter. Dark matter remains one of space’s most mysterious substances, invisible to current observational technology yet comprising about 85% of all matter in the universe.
“This object is also of scientific interest to test different theories of formation of lenticular galaxies, given its low-density environment and complex structure. Furthermore, this galaxy has been host to two known Type Ia supernovae,” said a statement by NASA and the European Space Agency, which operate the telescope.
• Staff can be reached at 202-636-3000.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.