NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope Captures Image of Star-Forming Galaxy NGC 1637.

This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image showcases the spiral galaxy NGC 1637, located 38 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Eridanus.

The Hubble Space Telescope has provided a view of NGC 1637, a spiral galaxy located 38 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Eridanus, known as “the River.” This image is part of an ongoing program aimed at understanding star formation in nearby galaxies.

NGC 1637 offers a vibrant snapshot of the stellar birth process. Stars are born in cold, dusty gas clouds that collapse under their own gravity. As new stars form, they heat their surroundings with intense starlight, winds, and outflows—factors that shape the rate of future star formation.

Within NGC 1637, pockets of pink clouds can be seen scattered across the galaxy’s spiral arms. The pink hue is the result of hydrogen atoms being excited by ultraviolet light emitted from young, hot stars. These bright blue stars are in the process of forming and lighting up their surrounding gas clouds. In contrast, the warm yellow glow from the galaxy’s center comes from a dense cluster of older, redder stars that have already passed their prime.

The galaxy has witnessed significant stellar events, including the explosion of a supernova in 1999. Known as SN 1999EM, this supernova was the brightest of the year. Supernovae are powerful stellar explosions that briefly outshine entire galaxies, but they also play a crucial role in star formation. The shockwaves from these explosions can compress nearby gas clouds, kickstarting the creation of new stars and continuing the cycle of stellar life.

In its dynamic and evolving nature, NGC 1637 offers a glimpse into the ongoing processes that shape galaxies and their stars.