Hubble telescope captures spiral galaxy NGC 1961

In this recently made public image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, the galaxy NGC 1961 unfolds its stunning spiral arms.

[{"selector":"#anim-b6023d28-1b51-4132-b30d-672d40bc49a4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(33.31106754509571%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23120533-b721-4dca-affb-60a5a68bf763","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The dusty spiral arms that wrap around the galaxy's burning centre are dotted with glittering, blue regions of young, brilliant stars.

[{"selector":"#anim-3239ffbf-71ca-4411-8464-0858186e7987","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c2a20134-02c5-4338-ac26-3c568327954a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(27.181199432443776%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The galaxy NGC 1961 is an AGN, or active galactic nucleus, and it has an intermediate spiral shape. Intermediate spiral galaxies fall between "barred" and "unbarred" spiral galaxies.

[{"selector":"#anim-b60d38e9-5773-4ef8-9904-58cded542435","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b5b893b-e11b-4a69-b981-23f74add5f85 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(26.824999859374998%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] At specific wavelengths of light, GN galaxies have extremely brilliant centres that frequently significantly outshine the rest of the galaxy.

[{"selector":"#anim-e2827cb7-0cf4-4121-9c6b-94175d8e2709 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(26.05468735470077%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fe55ad18-35da-424c-a4ea-99ce4e302efb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] This graphic was produced using information from two proposals. The first looked at as-yet undiscovered Arp galaxies, while the second focused on the ancestors and outbursts of several supernovae.

[{"selector":"#anim-38865765-e36a-4ebb-8304-89352bdc133c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(26.241700570850885%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0fa8e4d3-6d7a-4f25-a90b-1b27f7208060","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Supermassive black holes at the centres of these galaxies are probably responsible for the brilliant jets and winds that influence their evolution.

[{"selector":"#anim-1abcce5c-b70a-4eb3-b6e8-e2afcda4911d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(28.65774958250994%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a911928d-bdca-4b4a-9373-4f77e8f1bb9e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Low-energy charged particles are emitted by NGC 1961, a kind of AGN that is relatively frequent.

[{"selector":"#anim-8ed50d2f-a237-4890-824a-2048dc28defa [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(22.39554251326112%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1be700f2-ddfe-44d6-be3d-93baf17802cf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] NGC 1961 is a star in the constellation Camelopardalis that is roughly 180 million light-years distant.

[{"selector":"#anim-10b033f9-bd67-47e6-b638-501ce915ac20 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(22.878940953694354%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2bacfe0f-f71e-4e07-bba0-a4a4937e0cd5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] On December 3, 1788, William Herschel made the discovery. NGC 1961 has seen four supernovae: SN 1998eb, SN 2001is, SN 2013cc, and SN 2021vaz.

[{"selector":"#anim-96d12a85-aad0-4cfe-bfbc-653701c8cb53 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.583042569010512%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-21282e12-f6ee-4482-9f86-a80330b69242","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Given its apparent size and its distance from Earth, NGC 1961 is more than 220,000 light years across. It is located approximately 200 million light years away.