Edge-on Galaxy NGC 4710 in Coma Berenices | Hubble Space Telescope

Edge-on Galaxy NGC 4710 in Coma Berenices | Hubble Space Telescope

Still an astrophysical mystery, the evolution of the bulges in spiral galaxies led astronomers to the edge-on galaxy NGC 4710. When staring directly at the center of the galaxy, one can detect a faint, ethereal "X"-shaped structure. This feature that astronomers call a "boxy" or "peanut-shaped" bulge, is due to the vertical motions of the stars in the galaxy's bar and is only evident when the galaxy is seen edge-on. This curiously shaped puff is often observed in spiral galaxies with small bulges and open arms, but is less common in spirals with arms tightly wrapped around a more prominent bulge, such as NGC 4710.

This perspective allows astronomers to easily distinguish the central bulge of stars from its pancake-flat disk of stars, dust, and gas. The central bulge extends outside of the central disk like the yellow yolk on a fried egg.

Dark dust lanes—raw material for future generations of stars and planets—also appear confined to the central disk. What's striking in the image is a ghostly "X" pattern of stars. This is due to the inclined orbits of the stars in the galaxy's central bar-like structure.

NGC 4710 is located in the constellation Coma Berenices.

Distance from Earth: Distance: ~60 million light years

Credit: NASA & ESA
Release Date: Nov. 18, 2009

#NASA #ESA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Galaxies #NGC4710 #SpiralGalaxies #ComaBerenicesConstellation #Cosmos #Universe #HST #HubbleSpaceTelescope #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education