This is NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope The image shows the turbulent and highly active spiral galaxy NGC 1792. Located more than 50 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Columbus (the Dove), the bright glow of the galaxy's center is offset by the flaky and sparkling spiral arms swirling around it.
NGC 1792 is every bit as interesting to astronomers as its chaotic appearance might suggest. Classified as a starburst galaxy, it is a star-forming powerhouse with spiral arms rich in star-forming regions. In fact, it is surprisingly light for its mass. The galaxy is close to its larger neighbor, NGC 1808, and astronomers believe that the strong gravitational interaction between them has led to an increase in gas reserves in this galaxy. The result is a stream of star formation concentrated on the side closest to its neighbor, where gravity exerts a stronger influence. NGC 1792 is an ideal target for astronomers seeking to understand the complex interactions between gas, star clusters and supernovae in galaxies.
Hubble has studied this galaxy before. This new image includes additional data collected throughout 2025, providing greater insight into the frenetic activity taking place in the galaxy. Blooming red lights in the galaxy's arms mark hydrogen-alpha (H-alpha) emissions from dense clouds of hydrogen molecules. Newly forming stars within these clouds glow powerfully with ultraviolet radiation. This intense radiation ionizes the hydrogen gas, stripping off electrons, which causes the gas to emit H-alpha light. H-alpha is a very specific red wavelength of light and a telltale sign of new stars.
Media Contact:
Claire Andreoli ([email protected])
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
