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This breathtaking image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope provides a fresh perspective on the spiral galaxy NGC 2835, located about 35 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra (the Water Snake).
The galaxy’s sweeping spiral arms sparkle with clusters of young, brilliant blue stars, curving gracefully around an oval-shaped central bulge filled with older stars. This contrast beautifully highlights the galaxy’s dynamic stellar life cycle.
A Different Kind of Hubble Image.
Unlike previous images of NGC 2835 taken by Hubble or the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, this view integrates new data at a very specific wavelength of red light known as H-alpha.
The result? Dozens of bright pink nebulae, glowing like flowers scattered across the galaxy’s arms. These nebulae shine brightly in H-alpha light, allowing astronomers to trace the birth and death of stars.
- H II regions – Vast clouds of hydrogen ionized by massive newborn stars, radiating in vivid H-alpha.
- Supernova remnants – Expanding shells left behind when stars explode, still glowing in this wavelength.
- Planetary nebulae – Delicate shells of gas expelled by dying stars, also revealed through H-alpha emission.
Unlocking the Secrets of Stellar Neighborhoods.
By surveying 19 nearby galaxies in this way, Hubble researchers hope to identify more than 50,000 nebulae. These observations will shed light on how stars, through their intense radiation and powerful winds, shape and transform the very regions where they are born.
This deeper view of NGC 2835 not only enhances our cosmic portrait of galaxies but also brings astronomers one step closer to unraveling the life cycles of stars across the universe.