Hubble unveils stunning new images of galaxy IC 4709
The Hubble Space Telescope has once again delivered extraordinary images from the distant corners of the universe. This time, its subject of observation was the galaxy IC 4709, located 240 million light-years away in the constellation Microscopium. In the picture,
9:03 AM EDT, September 25, 2024
The telescope captured the bright center, a star-rich disk, and the surrounding galaxy's misty, translucent halo. Astronomers were particularly interested in the galactic center, which harbors a "gargantuan" black hole with a mass of 65 million solar masses. Scientists have thoroughly analyzed this incredible phenomenon.
Depressions in the galaxy's structure and the interactions of gas attracted by the black hole are visible, thanks to the exceptional resolution of the Hubble Telescope. The gas heats up so much that it emits light across a wide range of electromagnetic waves—from infrared through visible light to X-rays.
In a spiral path, the gas forming the disk falls onto it, heating up as it gains increasing rotational speed, the scientists report.
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Unfortunately, visible light coming from the galaxy's core is blocked by a dust lane, but thanks to the advanced technology of the Hubble Telescope, this does not hinder the obtaining of a detailed image of the interactions in the galactic core.
This information is crucial for understanding supermassive black holes present in galaxies much more distant than IC 4709, where separating such fine details is not possible.
Scientists hope the NASA SWIFT telescope will provide additional data on the core of galaxy IC 4709 and other galaxies, enabling observations in visible light, ultraviolet, and X-ray ranges. The European satellite Euclid may support it. These observations aim better to understand black holes and their impact on galaxies.
