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Credit: NASA,
ESA,
A. Aloisi (STScI /
ESA),
Hubble Heritage
(STScI /
AURA) -
ESA/Hubble Collaboration
Explanation:
Grand spiral galaxies
often seem to get all the glory.
Their newly formed, bright, blue
star clusters along beautiful, symmetric
spiral arms
are guaranteed to attract attention.
But small irregular galaxies form stars too, like
NGC
4449, located about 12 million light-years away.
In fact, this sharp
Hubble Space Telescope close-up of the
well-studied
galaxy clearly demonstrates that reddish star forming regions and
young blue star clusters
are widespread.
Less than 20,000 light-years across, the small island universe is
similar in size, and often
compared
to our Milky Way's satellite
galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud.
NGC 4449 is a member of a
group
of galaxies found in the constellation Canes Venatici.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: star formation - irregular galaxy
Publications with words: star formation - irregular galaxy
See also: