Hubble Telescope captures dazzling display in galaxy NGC 1672

Red hydrogen gas bubbles, energized by radiation from newly formed stars, add to the galaxy’s visual splendor. Near the galactic core, intensely hot young stars within a gas disk emit powerful X-rays. At the very center, an active galactic nucleus, fueled by a supermassive black hole, produces even stronger X-rays, classifying NGC 1672 as a Seyfert galaxy.

Hyderabad: NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has taken a stunning snapshot of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1672, some 49 million light-years away in the constellation Dorado. The galaxy boasts an extraordinary display of light, with stars illuminating its spiral disk and large arms.

Red bubbles of hydrogen gas, fed by radiation from recently formed stars, contribute to the visual splendour. Located near the galactic nucleus, extremely hot, young stars residing in a disk of gas are emitting tremendous X-rays. Although at the nucleus itself an active galactic nucleus powered by the supermassive black hole is producing more energetic X-rays, NGC 1672 has been classified as a Seyfert galaxy.

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The reason for this strong X-ray emission is that matter is heated up by spiralling around the black hole in an accretion disk.