NASAのインスタグラム(nasa) - 2月28日 02時01分

Dusty Galaxy, Home to an Exploding Star: The galaxy pictured here is NGC 4424, located in the constellation of Virgo, about 50 million light years from Earth. It is not visible with the naked eye but has been captured here with the Hubble Space Telescope.

Although it may not be obvious from this image, NGC 4424 is in fact a spiral galaxy. In this image it is seen more or less edge on, but from above, you would be able to see the arms of the galaxy wrapping around its center to give the characteristic spiral form.

In 2012, astronomers observed a supernova in NGC 4424 - a violent explosion marking the end of a star's life. During a supernova explosion, a single star can often outshine an entire galaxy. However, the supernova in NGC 4424, dubbed SN 2012cg, cannot be seen here as the image was taken ten years prior to the explosion. Along the central region of the galaxy, clouds of dust block the light from distant stars and create dark patches.

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, Acknowledgement: Gilles Chapdelaine

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