The Hubble Telescope recorded in a new image details of the spiral arms of galaxy NGC 5486, part of the constellation Ursa Major, estimated to be regarding 110 million light-years from Earth. The irregular spiral-like system features irregular formation processes, and its details were revealed by NASA in early March, showing diffusely shaped galactic arms alongside a bright core, while the backdrop of the image highlights dark and even more distant galaxies. .
Star-forming regions can be identified by the pinkish hues mirrored by the structure. The record came regarding through an initiative dedicated to the study of debris left by type 2 supernovae, massive explosions from the death of stars, when they release large amounts of gas and dust before the phenomenon.
NGC 5486 went supernova in 2004, and scientists used the telescope’s Advanced Camera for Surveys to pinpoint the followingmath of the phenomenon.
Although this particular galaxy has indistinct, winding spiral arms, it is close to the Pinwheel Galaxy, much larger, and one of the spiral galaxy examples of “grand design”, with prominent, well-defined spiral arms. In 2006, Hubble captured an image of the Pinwheel—at the time, the largest and most detailed picture of a spiral galaxy ever taken with the telescope.
