Hubble snaps bright spiral galaxy about 275 million light-years away

The European Space Agency's Hubble Picture of the Week features MCG-01-24-014, a bright spiral galaxy located about 275 million light-years from Earth.

In the above picture, the galaxy appears to be almost circular and seen face-on, with two prominent spiral arms winding out from a glowing core. The Hubble image also features two large bright stars in the foreground, one blue and one red, directly above the galaxy.

MCG-01-24-014 is also an active galaxy due to its extremely energetic core, called an active galactic nucleus (AGN). More specifically, it falls under the category of a Type-2 Seyfert galaxy.

Seyfert galaxies host one of the most common subclasses of AGN, alongside quasars. Seyfert galaxies tend to be relatively nearby ones where the host galaxy remains plainly detectable alongside its central AGN. In contrast, quasars, with their extraordinary luminosities, often outshine their host galaxies and are typically situated at much greater distances.

Seyfert galaxies are further classified into two types - Type-1 and Type-2.

"In the case of Seyfert galaxies, the predominant subcategories are Type-1 and Type-2. These are differentiated from one another by their spectra — the pattern that results when light is split into its constituent wavelengths — where the spectral lines that Type-2 Seyfert galaxies emit are particularly associated with specific so-called ‘forbidden’ emission," ESA explained in a post.

Our ESA/Hubble Picture of the Week features the bright spiral galaxy MCG-01-24-014! 🌌 pic.twitter.com/7CprIPn4kF

— HUBBLE (@HUBBLE_space) December 18, 2023

The Hubble Space Telescope, a joint project of NASA and ESA, has revolutionized our understanding of the mysterious universe, providing a wealth of data that has led to groundbreaking scientific discoveries and capturing the imaginations of both the general public and the scientific community around the world.

Hubble is located approximately 547 kilometers (about 340 miles) above the Earth's surface and observes the universe in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectra. The telescope has undergone several servicing missions to install new instruments, repair existing ones, and upgrade its systems, extending its lifespan and enhancing its observational capabilities.