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Collection:
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NASA Planetary Photo Journal Collection
Collection
NASA Planetary Photo Journal Collection
Collection
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Title:
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Look at my Arms!
Title
Look at my Arms!
Title
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Original Caption Released with Image:
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This image shows the hidden spiral arms that were discovered around the galaxy called NGC 4625 (top) by the ultraviolet eyes of NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer. An armless companion galaxy called NGC 4618 is pictured below.
Though the lengthy spiral arms are nearly invisible when viewed in optical light, they glow brightly in ultraviolet. This is because they are bustling with hot, newborn stars that radiate primarily ultraviolet light.
The youthful arms are also very long, stretching out to a distance four times the size of the galaxy's core. They are part of the largest ultraviolet galactic disk discovered so far.
Located 31 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici, NGC 4625 is the closest galaxy ever seen with such a young halo of arms. It is slightly smaller than our Milky Way, both in size and mass. However, the fact that this galaxy's disk is forming stars very actively suggests that it might evolve into a more massive and mature galaxy resembling our own.
Astronomers do not know why NGC 4618 lacks arms but speculate that it may have triggered the development of arms in NGC 4625.
Original_Caption_Rel eased_with_Image
This image shows the hidden spiral arms that were discovered around the galaxy called NGC 4625 (top) by the ultraviolet eyes of NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer. An armless companion galaxy called NGC 4618 is pictured below.
Though the lengthy spiral arms are nearly invisible when viewed in optical light, they glow brightly in ultraviolet. This is because they are bustling with hot, newborn stars that radiate primarily ultraviolet light.
The youthful arms are also very long, stretching out to a distance four times the size of the galaxy's core. They are part of the largest ultraviolet galactic disk discovered so far.
Located 31 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici, NGC 4625 is the closest galaxy ever seen with such a young halo of arms. It is slightly smaller than our Milky Way, both in size and mass. However, the fact that this galaxy's disk is forming stars very actively suggests that it might evolve into a more massive and mature galaxy resembling our own.
Astronomers do not know why NGC 4618 lacks arms but speculate that it may have triggered the development of arms in NGC 4625.
Original Caption Released with Image
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Produced By:
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California Institute of Technology
Produced_By
California Institute of Technology
Produced By
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Mission:
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Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX)
Mission
Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX)
Mission
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Spacecraft:
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GALEX Orbiter
Spacecraft
GALEX Orbiter
Spacecraft
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Target Name:
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NGC 4625
Target_Name
NGC 4625
Target Name
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Instrument:
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Ultraviolet/Visible Camera
Instrument
Ultraviolet/Visible Camera
Instrument
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Product Size:
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872 samples x 872 lines
Product_Size
872 samples x 872 lines
Product Size
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facet_what:
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Ultraviolet/Visible Camera
facet_what
Ultraviolet/Visible Camera
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Explorer
facet_what
Explorer
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Galaxy Evolution Explorer
facet_what
Galaxy Evolution Explorer
facet_what
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facet_what:
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GALEX
facet_what
GALEX
facet_what
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facet_what:
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GALEX Orbiter
facet_what
GALEX Orbiter
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Canes Venatici
facet_what
Canes Venatici
facet_what
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facet_where:
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California
facet_where
California
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
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Image #:
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PIA03541
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UID:
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SPD-PHOTJ-PIA03541
UID
SPD-PHOTJ-PIA03541
UID
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orignial url:
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orignial_url
orignial url
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