“Captivating Images: Hubble Reveals Spiral Galaxy and Luminous Star Cluster”

Discover a stunning image captured by the Hubble Space Telescope featuring a spiral galaxy and a prominent star in the Virgo constellation, shedding light on the demise of massive stars.

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A stunning snapshot from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope showcases a radiant spiral galaxy sharing the frame with a prominent star in the Virgo constellation. Despite their apparent proximity, these celestial bodies are actually separated by a vast distance. The star, characterized by four elongated diffraction spikes, resides within our own galaxy, a mere 7,109 light-years away. Meanwhile, the galaxy, known as NGC 4900, rests approximately 45 million light-years from Earth.

This captivating image merges data collected by two of Hubble’s instruments: the Advanced Camera for Surveys, operational since 2002, and the older Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2, used from 1993 to 2009. Remarkably, the data used in this composition were acquired over two decades apart, revealing the enduring scientific legacy of the Hubble Space Telescope.

These observations serve dual purposes centered on the study of massive stars nearing the end of their life cycles. One initiative focuses on investigating the aftermath of past supernovae, seeking to determine the mass of the exploded stars and explore their interactions with the surrounding environment. NGC 4900, home to a supernova called SN 1999br, was selected as a target for this study.

In a separate project, researchers assembled a comprehensive catalog of images from over 150 nearby galaxies to facilitate the study of future supernovae. By referring to these images when a supernova is detected, scientists can pinpoint the location of the progenitor star before its explosive demise. This valuable data sheds light on the processes that lead to supernova events.

For more information on this celestial spectacle, please contact Claire Andreoli at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

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