Hubble Captures a New View of Galaxy M90
Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, D. Thilker
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled a new mesmerizing image of the spiral galaxy Messier 90 (M90) in the constellation Virgo. Originally captured using the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) in 1994, Hubble revisited M90 with its more advanced Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) in 2019 and 2023. This latest observation offers a more detailed view of the galaxy’s dusty disk, gaseous halo, and brilliant core, presenting an awe-inspiring snapshot of its current state.
Star Formation and Gas Stripping
In this updated view, Hubble reveals active star formation in M90’s inner disk, seen as red H-alpha light from surrounding nebulae. However, the galaxy’s journey through the dense Virgo Cluster about 300 million years ago dramatically impacted its structure. The heavy gas concentration in the cluster’s center acted like a strong headwind, stripping vast amounts of gas from M90. This left behind a diffuse halo, a stunning but somber reminder that this gas is no longer available to fuel new star formation.
An Unusual Trajectory Toward Earth
Though M90 lies 55 million light-years away, it is one of the few galaxies moving closer to Earth. Its orbit through the Virgo Cluster has accelerated it, so M90 is now breaking free from the cluster. Unlike other galaxies moving in the opposite direction, M90’s trajectory is bringing it closer to us, and over billions of years, it will gradually transform into a lenticular galaxy as it continues on its path.
Hubble’s new image captures the dynamic beauty of M90 and offers a glimpse into the cosmic forces shaping galaxies as they evolve over time.
Read the original article on NASA Science.
Read more: Chance Discovery: Astronomers Uncover Dark, Starless Galaxy.
