Caught in the act

NGC 3351, also known as Messier 95, was first discovered in 1781 by Pierre Méchain, a French astronomer and surveyor who worked alongside Charles Messier. NGC 3351 is a type of galaxy known as a barred spiral galaxy and it is located in the constellation of Leo (The Lion).

New observations of this object have shown stellar feedback in action. Stellar feedback is the process of redistributing energy into the interstellar medium (the space in between the stars) within star-forming galaxies. In this particular galaxy, star formation is occurring in the ring surrounding the galaxy nucleus at such a violent rate that massive bubbles of hot gas can actually be seen being ejected. This ejected gas can then contribute (both positively and negatively) to ongoing star formation within the galaxy.

The data for this observation were taken with ALMA, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and the Very Large Telescope, showing once again that scientific collaboration across multiple facilities can produce some wonderful results.

Credit:

ESO/ R. Leaman/ D. Gadotti/ K. Sandstrom/ D. Calzetti

About the Image

Id:potw1935a
Type:Observation
Release date:2 September 2019, 06:00
Size:1517 x 1517 px

About the Object

Name:Messier 95
Type:Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral
Constellation:Leo
Category:Galaxies

Image Formats

Large JPEG
577.1 KB
Screensize JPEG
244.2 KB

Zoomable


Wallpapers

1024x768
241.3 KB
1280x1024
378.0 KB
1600x1200
494.9 KB
1920x1200
571.1 KB
2048x1536
738.1 KB

Coordinates

Position (RA):10 43 57.82
Position (Dec):11° 42' 12.30"
Field of view:1.00 x 1.00 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 1.0° right of vertical

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Ultraviolet
UV
275 nmHubble Space Telescope
WFC3
Millimeter
12CO (1-0)
2.600784 mmAtacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array
Band 3
Optical
U
336 nmHubble Space Telescope
WFC3
Optical
B
438 nmHubble Space Telescope
WFC3
Infrared
V
555 nmHubble Space Telescope
WFC3
Optical
H-alpha
656 nmVery Large Telescope
MUSE
Optical
I
814 nmHubble Space Telescope
WFC3