Close-up: Starburst Galaxy NGC 4449 in Canes Venatici: Small but mighty | Hubble
NGC 4449 is a dwarf galaxy. This means that it is far smaller and contains fewer stars than the Milky Way. However, NGC 4449's strengths come from its ability to produce stars. This galaxy is currently forming new stars at a much faster rate than expected for its size. It makes it known as a starburst galaxy. Most starburst galaxies churn out stars mainly in their centers, but NGC 4449 is alight with brilliant young stars throughout. Researchers believe that this global burst of star formation came about because of NGC 4449’s interactions with its galactic neighbors. Because NGC 4449 is so close, it provides an excellent opportunity for Hubble to study how interactions between galaxies can influence the formation of new stars.
A Hubble image of NGC 4449 was previously released in 2007. This new version incorporates several additional wavelengths of light that Hubble collected for multiple observing programs. These programs encompass an incredible range of science, from a deep dive into NGC 4449’s star-formation history to the mapping of the brightest, hottest, and most massive stars in more than two dozen nearby galaxies.
Image Description: This Hubble image shows the galaxy NGC 4449. The field is dominated by dust that appears in dark red with scattered brighter regions of star formation as bright pink globules. The background shows countless blue stars peeking around the dusty regions.
Release Date: June 16, 2025
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