Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys offers a view of the spectral NGC 6684, a lens-shaped lenticular galaxy situated 44 million light-years away in the constellation Pavo. This study is a part of an overarching program that is focusing on exploring all galaxies within a radius of 10 megaparsecs that Hubble has not explored before, contributing to our understanding of the diversity of galaxies. Credit goes to ESA/Hubble & NASA, and R. Tully.
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has snapped a radiant image of the lenticular galaxy NGC 6684, which resides approximately 44 million light-years from our planet, situated in the constellation named Pavo.
A captivating picture of the lenticular galaxy NGC 6684 is disclosed by the Hubble Space Telescope, aglow with soft illumination. The image was taken with the aid of Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). Located around 44 million light-years from Earth within the constellation Pavo, it derives its name from the Latin word for peacock. Pavo is a constellation located in the southern hemisphere and is one of four that are referred to as the Southern Birds.
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Lenticular Galaxy Traits
NGC 6684 and other lenticular galaxies have a lens-like structure, hence the term “lenticular.” While they possess a large disc, they lack the distinct spiral arms found in galaxies like Andromeda. This places them in a category that falls between elliptical and spiral galaxies, giving them a nebulous and spectral appearance. Compounding this ethereal look, NGC 6684 doesn’t exhibit the dark dust lanes often seen in other galaxies.
A Comprehensive Survey of Galaxies
The information for this image was gathered during a program called ‘Every Known Nearby Galaxy,’ focusing on investigating all galaxies within approximately 32.6 million light-years or 10 megaparsecs. This endeavor is centered on galaxies that haven’t been previously examined by the telescope. Before initiating this project, Hubble had surveyed close to 75% of the neighboring galaxies. The culmination of this comprehensive review is anticipated to shed light on the diverse stars composing various types of galaxies in a wide array of settings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about NGC 6684
What is NGC 6684, and how was it observed?
NGC 6684 is a lenticular galaxy located 44 million light-years away in the constellation Pavo. The Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys captured an image of this ghostly galaxy, which is part of a program surveying all galaxies within a 10-megaparsec radius not previously visited by Hubble.
What are the characteristics of lenticular galaxies like NGC 6684?
Lenticular galaxies like NGC 6684 are lens-shaped in structure and have a large disc but lack prominent spiral arms. This gives them a diffuse, spectral appearance, and NGC 6684 also lacks the dark dust lanes typically seen in other galaxies.
What is the ‘Every Known Nearby Galaxy’ program?
The ‘Every Known Nearby Galaxy’ program aims to observe all galaxies within a range of 10 megaparsecs, or approximately 32.6 million light-years. It targets galaxies not previously observed by the Hubble Space Telescope, and the completion of this census is expected to provide valuable insights into various types of galaxies across different environments.
Where is the constellation Pavo, and why is it significant in this context?
Pavo is a constellation situated in the southern sky, named from the Latin term for peacock. It is one of the constellations known as the Southern Birds. The lenticular galaxy NGC 6684 is located in this constellation, making Pavo significant to the observation.
More about NGC 6684
- Hubble Space Telescope
- ESA/Hubble Information Centre
- Lenticular Galaxies
- Constellation Pavo
- Every Known Nearby Galaxy Project (Note: The last link may not lead to an actual page, as the text doesn’t provide enough information to link to a specific source for this project.)
5 comments
thats really cool. 44 million light years away, cant even imagine. what’s the meaning behind the name of the galaxy anyway?
Wow this is so amazing! I never knew much about lenticular galaxies before. NGC 6684 sounds intriguing, would love to learn more.
The spectral and ghostly appearance description is spot-on! NGC 6684 has always fascinated me, and this text captures its essence beautifully, though there might be more to it than just this.
Hubble keeps impressing us! Luv to know how they even manage to capture such images, so clear, so distant
Is this galaxy like our Milky Way? Im not very good with all the technical stuff, but the pictures always look stunning.