Hubble Captures Striking New Image of NGC 691

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured beautiful photo of spiral galaxy called “NGC 691”.

What is NGC 691?

It is an unbarred spiral galaxy located about 125 million light-years away in Aries constellation. It was discovered by German-born British astronomer William Herschel in November, 1786. Spiral galaxy is the foremost member of NGC 691 group which is the collection of nine galaxies with different shapes and colours. It is referred as “LEDA 6793, UGC 1305 and TC 448”. The Spiral galaxy has a diameter of 130,000 light-years.

Features of Galaxy

Galaxy comprises of multiple ring structure. Out of them, three rings are recognized in infrared light.

New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars (NGC)

NGC is an astronomical catalogue comprising of deep-sky objects. It was compiled by John Louis Emil Dreyer in 1888. NGC comprises of 7,840 objects, such as star clusters, galaxies, emission & absorption nebulae.

Hubble Space Telescope

This space telescope was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990. It still in operation. It is the largest and most versatile telescope which is renowned as vital research tool as well as public relations boon for astronomy. It has been named after astronomer Edwin Hubble.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2021