The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has taken a picture of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 337.
This Hubble image shows NGC 337, a barred spiral galaxy some 60 million light-years away in the constellation of Cetus. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / C. Kilpatrick.
NGC 337 lies approximately 60 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Cetus.
Also known as LEDA 3572 or IRAS 00573-0750, this barred spiral galaxy has a diameter of 60,400 light-years.
It was discovered on September 10, 1785 by the German-British astronomer William Herschel.
NGC 337 is the largest and brightest member of the NGC 337 group (also known as LGG 15), a small group that includes at least three other galaxies.
The new image of the galaxy was made from separate exposures taken in the visible and near-infrared regions of the spectrum with Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS).
Two filters were used to sample various wavelengths. The color results from assigning different hues to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter.
“This image combines observations made at two wavelengths, highlighting the galaxy’s golden center and blue outskirts,” the Hubble astronomers said in a statement.
“The golden central glow comes from older stars, while the sparkling blue edges get their color from young stars.”
“If Hubble had observed NGC 337 about a decade ago, the telescope would have spotted something remarkable among the hot blue stars along the galaxy’s edge: a brilliant supernova,” they added.
“Labeled SN 2014cx, this supernova is remarkable for having been discovered nearly simultaneously in two vastly different ways: by a prolific supernova hunter, Koichi Itagaki, and by the All Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN).”
“ASAS-SN is a worldwide network of robotic telescopes that scans the sky for sudden events like supernovae.”
According to the astronomers, SN 2014cx is classified as a Type IIP supernova.
“The Type II classification means that the exploding star was a supergiant at least eight times as massive as the Sun,” the researchers said.
“The ‘P’ stands for plateau, meaning that after the light from the supernova began to fade, the level reached a plateau, remaining at the same brightness for several weeks or months before fading further.”
“This type of supernova occurs when a massive star can no longer produce enough energy in its core to stave off the crushing pressure of gravity.”
“SN 2014cx’s progenitor star is estimated to have been ten times more massive than the Sun and hundreds of times as wide.”
Though it has long since dimmed from its initial brilliance, the astronomers are still keeping tabs on the remnant of SN 2014cx.
Source : Breaking Science News