Hubble Telescope Captures Image of Spiral Galaxy IC 4633

• 16 Apr 2024

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured stunning image of spiral galaxy IC 4633, located 100 million light years away in constellation Apus.

Key Points

• Stellar Richness: IC 4633 boasts billions of stars and is rich in star-forming activity, with an active galactic nucleus at its core.
• Partial Obstruction: Dark dust clouds partially obstruct the galaxy's features, particularly the lower right portion, revealing the presence of dark nebula MW9, also known as the South Celestial Serpent.
• Proximity to Milky Way: Dark nebula MW9 is located in the Chamaeleon star-forming region, approximately 500 light-years away in our Milky Way galaxy.
• Integrated Flux Nebula: MW9 is classified as an integrated flux nebula (IFN), a faintly lit cloud of gas and dust in the Milky Way, not associated with any single star.
• Extensive Study: Chamaeleon region, including dark nebula MW9, is extensively studied for its abundance of young stars, offering insights into star formation processes.
• Observational Tools: Both Hubble Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope have captured images of the Chamaeleon region, particularly the star-rich cloud Cha I, contributing to our understanding of cosmic evolution.