Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have taken a picture of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 685, which is found in the constellation of Eridanus.
This Hubble image shows NGC 685, a barred spiral galaxy some 58 million light-years away in the constellation of Eridanus. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / J. Lee, Space Telescope Science Institute / Gladys Kober, NASA & Catholic University of America.
NGC 685 is situated in the constellation of Eridanus at a distance of 58 million light-years.
“This galaxy lies south of the celestial equator and is visible from the southern hemisphere at certain times of the year,” the Hubble astronomers said.
NGC 685 was first discovered by the British astronomer John Herschel on October 3, 1834.
Otherwise known as ESO 152-24, IRAS 01458-5300 or LEDA 6581, it has a bright center bar and patchy, curving arms.
“The whole galaxy is about 60,000 light-years across — a little more than half the size of our Milky Way Galaxy,” the astronomers said.
“The patches of bright blue along the galaxy’s arms are star clusters, groups of stars held together by their mutual gravitational attraction.”
“Wisps of dark red near the central bar depict interstellar gas and dust, the matter from which stars form.”
“About two-thirds of all spiral galaxies have a central bar like NGC 685,” they added.
“Its intense glow comes from many stars concentrated in a relatively small area.”
The researchers took this image of NGC 685 as part of a scientific effort to study star cluster formation and evolution.
“Hubble’s ultraviolet capabilities are well-suited to this task, since young stars shine brightly at ultraviolet wavelengths,” they explained.
“An average-sized galaxy like NGC 685 can have around 100 million stars, which is on the low end.”
