The galaxy, titled NGC 4911, lies more than 320 million light-years away in the “Coma Cluster” of about 1,000 galaxies and islands of stars similar to the Milky Way. Nasa said the stunning long-exposure picture, titled “Island Universe”, shows the “majestic face-on spiral galaxy” in the northern constellation Coma Berenices amid a sea of stars.
The “natural-colour” image, released by the space agency combines data from 2006, 2007, and 2009. A high resolution copy of the image has also been released.
Using Hubble’s brand new Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 and the Advanced Camera for Surveys, it required 28 hours of exposure time. The long wispy formations, seen along the “arms” of the main galaxy, are a result of the nearby galaxy passing “perilously close to each other”.
“The high resolution of Hubble’s cameras, paired with considerably long exposures, made it possible to observe these faint details”, a Nasa spokesman said.
Article by Telegraph
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Amazing picture indeed… The nearly 20-year-old Hubble Space Telescope is still going strong!
Cheers from Sweden.
Astounding, there must be life, I think I saw somebody move.
Love u Derren!!! ur the best!
How was it made? Why does it appear to be beautful?
It is so big, yet it seems so small on the photo. Thank for the distance!
So Stunning!
Thing that’s amazing?! Check out this painting from one of the worlds most talented artists…Akiane…
http://www.artakiane.com/gallery
Wow! Beautiful. There’s billions upon billions of stars and galaxies out there, meaning millions of planets, suns and solar systems, so it is almost IMPOSSIBLE that we could be the only ones out here, stuck alone on our ever so tiny planet. If there has even been a chance that there was once life on another planet in our very own SOLAR SYSTEM then think of the possibilities of life throughout THE WHOLE UNIVERSE. I’d like to think that I have now converted some of you sceptics into alien believers.
Billions of stars and thousands of galaxies spread over infinity of time and space – vow it turns me into a believer!
Man this is awsum. Gr8 post. Wonder hw this pic was taken, I mean with such stunning quality. Gr8 stuff anyway