Hubble Looks at Face-On Barred Spiral Galaxy

This new image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope features NGC 3059, a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Carina.

This Hubble image shows NGC 3059, a barred spiral galaxy some 57 million light-years away in the constellation of Carina. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / D. Thilker.

This Hubble image shows NGC 3059, a barred spiral galaxy some 57 million light-years away in the constellation of Carina. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / D. Thilker.

NGC 3059 resides approximately 57 million light-years away in the constellation of Carina.

Otherwise known as ESO 37-7, IRAS 09496-7341 or LEDA 28298, the galaxy has a diameter of 55,000 light-years.

It was discovered by the English astronomer John Herschel on February 22, 1835.

This new image of NGC 3059 is made up of observations from Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) in the ultraviolet, near-infrared, and optical parts of the spectrum.

Six filters were used to sample various wavelengths. The color results from assigning different hues to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter.

“The data used to compose this image were collected by Hubble in May 2024, as part of an observing program that studied a number of galaxies,” the Hubble astronomers explained.

“All the observations were made using the same range of filters: partially transparent materials that allow only very specific wavelengths of light to pass through.”

“Filters are used extensively in observational astronomy, and can be calibrated to allow either extremely narrow or somewhat broader ranges of light through.”

“Narrow-band filters are invaluable from a scientific perspective because certain light wavelengths are associated with specific physical and chemical processes.”

“For example, under particular conditions, hydrogen atoms are known to emit red light with wavelength value of 656.46 nm.”

“Red light at this wavelength is known as H-alpha emission, or the ‘H-alpha line’.”

“It is very useful to astronomers because its presence acts as an indicator of certain physical processes and conditions; it is often a tell-tale sign of new stars being formed, for example.”

“Thus, narrow-band filters calibrated to allow H-alpha emission through can be used to identify regions of space where stars are forming.”

Such a filter was used for this image of NGC 3059, the narrow-band filter called F657N or the H-alpha filter.

“The F stands for filter, and the N stands for narrow,” the astronomers said.

“The numerical value refers to the peak wavelength that the filter lets through: 657 is very close to the 656.46 H-alpha line’s wavelength.”

“The data collected using five other filters contributed to this image as well, all of which were wide-band filters; meaning that they allow a wider range of light wavelengths through.”

“This is less useful for identifying extremely specific lines (such as the H-alpha line) but still enables us to explore relatively specific parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.”

“In addition, collectively the information from multiple filters can be used to make beautiful images such as this one.”

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