A magnificent new picture of a spiral galaxy has been released and it displays its features in gleaming gold and dazzling blue. The galaxy, known as NGC 4303 and located 55 million light-years away from Earth, was captured using two advanced telescopes that captured both radio waves and visible light as part of the PHANGS project. NGC 4303, which is also referred to as Messier 61 (M61) after its co-discoverer Charles Messier, is one of the more substantial galaxies in the Virgo Cluster.

NGC 4303 is a prime example of a "starburst galaxy", meaning it is characterized by a significantly increased rate of star formation. This intense process is powered by clouds of molecular gas, which are visible in the image as the golden hue, captured by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) based in the Chilean Andes, as reported by YahooNews!

Examination Using Combination Image

The blue areas in the image of NGC 4303 represent the already formed stars, captured by the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) that is part of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile. By combining the images from both telescopes, astronomers can examine the distribution of gas and stars in the galaxy, providing valuable insight into what drives star formation in galaxies, what contributes to its growth, and what eventually leads to its decline.

Space.com reported that the joint ALMA/MUSE image doesn't show the intense X-ray source located in the center of NGC 4303. This source is believed to be the result of an "Active Galactic Nucleus" (AGN), powered by a feeding supermassive black hole with a mass estimated to be as high as 5 million times the mass of the sun.

The image created by the combination of data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) telescopes do not show an intense X-ray source located at the center of the spiral galaxy NGC 4303. However, astronomers believe that this source exists and is the result of an "Active Galactic Nucleus" (AGN). An AGN is a region in the center of a galaxy that is highly active and emits vast amounts of energy, often in the form of X-rays.

An image of the spiral galaxy NGC 4303 located 55 million light-years away.
(Photo : NASA)
An image of the spiral galaxy NGC 4303 located 55 million light-years away.


ALSO READ: NASA Hubble Space Telescope Finds Spiral Galaxy Showing Its Spiral Arms

PHANGS Space Project

This activity is thought to be driven by a supermassive black hole, which is a type of black hole with a mass that can be millions or billions of times greater than that of the sun. In the case of NGC 4303, it is estimated that the supermassive black hole powering the AGN has a mass of up to 5 million times that of the sun. The PHANGS project is focused on obtaining high-resolution observations of nearby galaxies using various telescopes, including the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

The objective of the project is to understand how the processes related to gas and star formation interact with the structure and evolution of galaxies. The PHANGS project (Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby GalaxieS) is a comprehensive study of nearby galaxies using the latest telescopes and technology. Its goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the physical processes that govern the formation and evolution of galaxies.

By making high-resolution observations of nearby galaxies, PHANGS aims to reveal the interplay between the physics of gas and star formation and the structure and evolution of galaxies. This includes investigating the effects of supermassive black holes, active galactic nuclei, and large-scale galactic dynamics. The project uses a range of telescopes, including the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), to gather data and build a more complete picture of these complex processes.

RELATED ARTICLE: Exquisite Image of Spiral Galaxy Coma Pinwheel Sighted by ESO's Very Large Telescope [Look]

Check out more news and information on Space in Science Times.