Key Takeaways
- NGC 4535 is a spiral galaxy located about 50 million light-years away in the Virgo constellation, featuring a central bar and active spiral arms.
- The blue glow of the spiral arms is due to young, massive, and hot stars, while pink areas, known as H II regions, are formed by ionized hydrogen gas from newly formed stars.
- The galaxy can be hard to see in small telescopes, earning it the nickname "Lost Galaxy" due to its faint appearance under certain conditions.
- The Hubble image of NGC 4535 is part of the PHANGS project, which aims to catalog about 50,000 H II regions in nearby galaxies and study the relationship between young stars and cold gas.
- A Star Projector Galaxy Night Light is available for purchase on Amazon for $34.99.
NGC 4535 is a spiral galaxy found roughly 50 million light-years away within the Virgo constellation, also known as The Maiden. This galaxy features a prominent central bar composed of stars and extensive spiral arms, which are full of activity.
The Colorful Glow
In the image captured, the spiral arms shine predominantly in blue, with numerous pink dots sprinkled throughout. The blue hue is produced by young, massive, and hot stars.
The pink areas visible are referred to as H II (“H-two”) regions. These areas come into existence when newly formed, hot, massive stars ionize the nearby hydrogen gas with their ultraviolet radiation. Hubble's earlier images of NGC 4535 did not effectively showcase these star-forming nebulae.
A Challenging View
In the Hubble image, NGC 4535 stands out as bold, bright, and vibrant. However, under different viewing circumstances, it can be quite hard to see its details. When observed through a small telescope, it appears very faint, which has led to its nickname, the “Lost Galaxy.”
This image of NGC 4535 utilizes data from a research initiative aimed at cataloging approximately 50,000 H II regions in nearby galaxies that are forming stars. The galaxy is part of the PHANGS (Physics at High Angular Resolution in Nearby GalaxieS) project, which aims to explore the connection between young stars and cold gas.
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