Hubble captures starry Cetus constellation galaxy

NGC 1087, a barred spiral galaxy located 80 million light-years away in the constellation Cetus, showcases a mix of new and old stars in its dusty spiral arms. With a diameter of 87,000 light-years and a compact nucleus, this galaxy stands out for its unique features. The dark red dust lanes within NGC 1087 outline its spiral structure, while the stellar bar at its center is notably shorter compared to other barred galaxies. Despite the typical pattern of star formation and decay in barred galaxies, NGC 1087 displays signs of ongoing star formation, piquing the interest of scientists.

Discovered by British astronomer William Herschel in 1785, NGC 1087 is positioned just south of the celestial equator, making it visible from both hemispheres. Notably, a Type II supernova named 1995V was detected within this galaxy in 1995, marking the only supernova ever observed in NGC 1087. This type of supernova occurs when a massive star exhausts its nuclear fuel, leading to a collapse of its iron core followed by a powerful explosion.

In a recent image captured by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, the dark red streaks represent cold molecular gas, the building blocks of new stars. Bright pink areas indicate regions of active star formation, characterized by ionized hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. Meanwhile, the bluer sections contain hot, young stars that formed earlier in NGC 1087’s history.

Hubble’s observations of NGC 1087 aim to explore the relationship between young stars and cold gas, shedding light on the processes that occur within gaseous regions after star formation.

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