In this galaxy, colours tell a story image
This Barred Spiral Galaxy — Dubbed NGC 1087 — Is Located In The Constellation Cetus. The Image’s Various Colors Tell A Story: The Red Indicates The Cold Molecular Gas From Which Stars Emerge, The Pink Signals Areas Where New Stars Are Forming, And The Blue Regions Show “Hot, Young Stars Formed Earlier In The Lifetime Of This Galaxy,” According To NASA. It’s 80 Million Light-Years Away From Earth And Is Visible Across The Planet.

Although barred galaxies usually see “a burst of star formation followed by a slow decay,” NGC 1087 piques researchers’ interest because it indicates ongoing new star formation, the agency said. This galaxy can also help shed light on the interplay between young stars and cold gas, NASA noted, plus “what happens to gaseous regions after stars are formed within them.”

Credit: NASA, ESA, R. Chandar (University of Toledo), and J. Lee (Space Telescope Science Institute); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

Leave a Reply