Using the Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) instrument aboard the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have captured a stunning new image of the spiral galaxy NGC 7456.
This Hubble image shows NGC 7456, a spiral galaxy located 51 million light-years away in the constellation of Grus. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / D. Thilker.
NGC 7456 was discovered by the British astronomer John Herschel on September 4, 1834.
This galaxy lies approximately 51 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Grus.
Otherwise known as ESO 346-26, IRAS 22594-3950 or LEDA 70304, it has a diameter of 117,100 light-years.
NGC 7456 is a member of the LDC 1547 galaxy group, a gathering of 16 large galaxies.
“In the Hubble image we see in fine detail the patchy spiral arms of this galaxy, followed by clumps of dark, obscuring dust,” the Webb astronomers said.
“Blossoms of glowing pink are rich reservoirs of gas where new stars are forming, illuminating the clouds around them and causing the gas to emit this tell-tale red light.”
“The Hubble program which collected these data is focused on stellar activity just like this, tracking new stars, clouds of hydrogen and star clusters to learn how the galaxy has evolved through time,” they added.
“Hubble, with its ability to capture visible, ultraviolet and some infrared light, is not the only observatory focused on NGC 7456.”
“ESA’s XMM-Newton satellite has imaged X-rays from the galaxy on multiple occasions, discovering a number of so-called ultraluminous X-ray sources.”
“These small, compact objects emit terrifically powerful X-rays, much more than would be expected for their size.”
“We are still trying to pin down what powers these extreme objects, and NGC 7456 contributes a few more examples.”
“On top of that, the region around the galaxy’s supermassive black hole is spectacularly bright and energetic, making NGC 7456 an active galaxy.”
“Whether looking at its core or its outskirts, at visible light or X-rays, this galaxy has something interesting to show.”