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Hubble spots a stunning spiral galaxy

Date:
May 3, 2019
Source:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Summary:
NGC 2903 is located about 30 million light-years away in the constellation of Leo (the Lion), and was studied as part of a Hubble survey of the central regions of roughly 145 nearby disk galaxies.
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Few of the universe's residents are as iconic as the spiral galaxy. These limelight-hogging celestial objects combine whirling, pinwheeling arms with scatterings of sparkling stars, glowing bursts of gas, and dark, weaving lanes of cosmic dust, creating truly awesome scenes -- especially when viewed through a telescope such as the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. In fact, this image from Hubble frames a perfect spiral specimen: the stunning NGC 2903.

NGC 2903 is located about 30 million light-years away in the constellation of Leo (the Lion), and was studied as part of a Hubble survey of the central regions of roughly 145 nearby disk galaxies. This study aimed to help astronomers better understand the relationship between the black holes that lurk at the cores of galaxies like these, and the rugby-ball-shaped bulge of stars, gas and dust at the galaxy's center -- such as that seen in this image.


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Materials provided by NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Cite This Page:

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. "Hubble spots a stunning spiral galaxy." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 3 May 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190503100833.htm>.
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. (2019, May 3). Hubble spots a stunning spiral galaxy. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190503100833.htm
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. "Hubble spots a stunning spiral galaxy." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190503100833.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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