New Delhi, June 1: The universe is filled with countless mysteries that captivate the public’s imagination. One intriguing question is what happens when a bright star comes between Earth and a galaxy located 14 million light-years away. The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Hubble Telescope has captured the answer in a breathtaking image.
The ESA shared the stunning photos on its official Instagram account. In the image, a nearby star shines so brightly that it nearly obscures the distant galaxy known as PGC 39058. Astronomers often find studying galaxies challenging, but in the case of PGC 39058, the task became even more complicated due to the bright star positioned directly in between Earth and the galaxy. The star’s intense brightness makes it somewhat difficult to observe the distant galaxy in Hubble’s image.
Despite this, Hubble’s powerful optics managed to capture both the star and the galaxy clearly. PGC 39058 is classified as a dwarf galaxy, situated in the Draco constellation, approximately 14 million light-years from Earth. It contains millions of stars, many of which may shine as brightly as the star in the foreground. However, due to its small size and distance, it appears faint.
In Hubble’s image, the galaxy is depicted scattered among its various stars, with several other distant galaxies visible in the background. The bright star is relatively close to Earth, which is why it appears so luminous. However, it cannot be seen with the naked eye; a small telescope or binoculars are required for observation.
Hubble captured this image using the Advanced Camera for Surveys, employing yellow and near-infrared filters. The Draco constellation spans a large portion of the northern sky and is associated with ancient Greek mythology, linked to a dragon with 100 heads that guarded golden apples.
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