NASA
image release Feb. 17, 2011 To see a video of this spiral galaxy go to www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/5453173577/
The Hubble Space Telescope revealed this majestic disk of stars and dust
lanes in this view of the spiral galaxy NGC 2841.
A bright cusp of starlight marks the galaxy's center. Spiraling outward
are dust lanes that are silhouetted against the population of whitish
middle-aged stars. Much younger blue stars trace the spiral arms.
Notably missing are pinkish emission nebulae indicative of new star
birth. It is likely that the radiation and supersonic winds from fiery,
super-hot, young blue stars cleared out the remaining gas (which glows
pink), and hence shut down further star formation in the regions in
which they were born. NGC 2841 currently has a relatively low star
formation rate compared to other spirals that are ablaze with emission
nebulae.
NGC 2841 lies 46 million light-years away in the constellation of Ursa
Major (The Great Bear). This image was taken in 2010 through four
different filters on Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3. Wavelengths range
from ultraviolet light through visible light to near-infrared light.
NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble
Collaboration; Acknowledgment: M. Crockett and S. Kaviraj (Oxford
University, UK), R. O’Connell (University of Virginia), B. Whitmore
(STScI), and the WFC3 Scientific Oversight Committee
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science,
Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays
a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling
scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
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