Hubble Space Telescope Spies NGC 7541 | Astronomy – Sci-News.com
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has produced an outstanding image of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 7541.
This Hubble image shows NGC 7541, a barred spiral galaxy located 103.7 million light-years away in the constellation of Pisces. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / A. Riess et al.
NGC 7541 resides approximately 103.7 million light-years away in the constellation of Pisces.
Also known as LEDA 70795 or UGC 12447, the galaxy has a diameter of 125,000 light-years.
It was discovered by the German-born British astronomer William Herschel on August 30, 1785.
Along with the spiral galaxy NGC 7537, it makes up a pair of galaxies known as KPG 578 or Holm 805.
NGC 7541 is officially classified as a barred spiral galaxy.
“A barred spiral is a galaxy with whirling, pinwheeling, spiral arms, and a bright centre that is intersected by a bar of gas and stars,” Hubble astronomers explained.
“This bar cuts directly through the galaxy’s central region, and is thought to invigorate the region somewhat, sparking activity and fuelling myriad processes that may otherwise have never occurred or have previously ground to a halt — star formation and active galactic nuclei being key examples.”
“We think bars exist in up to two-thirds of all spiral galaxies, including our own home, the Milky Way.”
“NGC 7541 is actually observed to have a higher-than-usual star formation rate, adding weight to the theory that spiral bars act as stellar nurseries, corralling and funneling inwards the material and fuel needed to create and nurture new baby stars,” they said.
