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What it is : The Galax urceolata NGC 4694 , a member of the Virgo galaxy cluster

Where it is:54 million light - years from Earth , in the constellation Virgo

An image of NGC 4694, a smooth, glowing galaxy shaped like an ellipse with barely any star formation

The unusual galaxy NGC 4694 has traits unique to the two main galaxy types, spiral and elliptical.

When it was shared : Sept. 30 , 2024

Why it ’s so peculiar : NGC 4694 is a galaxy that can not be easy sort into one of the two basic galaxy types : spiral and elliptical . stargazer needed to examine its property in point to find its accurate classification .

Spiral galaxies , such as ourMilky manner , are comparatively young and abundant in headliner - take shape gas . They showcase discrete turbinate arms invest with hot , brilliant , young stars . In contrast , egg-shaped galaxy are more tranquil . These oval galaxies are composed primarily of old , redder star topology . Most galaxies fall into these canonical types .

An image of NGC 4694, a smooth, glowing galaxy shaped like an ellipse with barely any star formation

However , NGC 4694 has properties of both type , complicating its categorisation , Hubble Space Telescopeteam extremity explained in adescription of the image . It has a fluent - front , armless shape , like an ovate extragalactic nebula , and a disc with a low star - formation rate . However , it has relatively younger and newer stars spring in its central region . By contrast , egg-shaped coltsfoot do not typically contain the ingredient necessary for unexampled star to form . The active star formation , which powers the lustrous pith , adjust more with the characteristics of a spiral galaxy . Like a young and rattling spiral , NGC 4694 is rich in hydrogen petrol and junk and is surrounded by a hydrogen gas cloud .

The image also features reddish - brown dust forming unusual structure dissipate across the Galax urceolata , spreading out from the core . Interestingly , the surrounding cloud of hydrogen gas forms a foresighted bridge to a wispy and midget nearby galaxy named VCC 2062 . An in - depth study of this image revealed that the two extragalactic nebula may have interacted in an vivid hit , allowing the larger NGC 4694 to slip gas from the smaller VCC 2062 . This dramatic hit shaped NGC 4694 into its singular armless , placid form characterized by dynamic star formation , classifying it as alenticular Galax urceolata .

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Lenticular galaxy are intermediates between ellipticals and spiral . They sport a central bulge and a prominent disk , but they miss majestic spiral arms and contain more fuel for star organization than distinctive ovoid galaxies .

Using the Hubble Space Telescope , astronomer discover the wandflower ’s categorisation . The stunning double is a issue of combining ultraviolet datum with visual data amass by Hubble ’s Wide Field Camera 3 .

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