Photo credit: science.nasa.gov
Exploring the Squid Galaxy: A Closer Look at Messier 77
The latest imagery captured by NASA/ESA’s Hubble Space Telescope highlights the fascinating spiral galaxy known as Messier 77, or the Squid Galaxy. This celestial body is located approximately 45 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Cetus, often referred to as The Whale.
Messier 77 was cataloged by the French astronomer Charles Messier, who compiled a list of astronomical objects to aid in differentiating comets from other celestial phenomena. The galaxy was initially discovered in 1780 by Pierre Méchain, also a French astronomer and a contemporary of Messier, who shared a similar interest in cataloging nebulae.
During the 18th century, astronomers like Messier and Méchain misidentified the Squid Galaxy as a spiral nebula or a star cluster. This confusion is understandable given the limited observational technology of the time. It took over a hundred years for astronomers to realize that these so-called ‘spiral nebulae’ were actually distinct galaxies situated millions of light-years away from the Milky Way. The Squid Galaxy, with its bright core surrounded by a hazy envelope, can easily be mistaken for a stellar phenomenon amid a nebula when viewed through a small telescope.
The moniker “Squid Galaxy” is a more modern designation that reflects the galaxy’s unique, extended filamentary structure, which resembles the tentacles of a squid curling around its disk. This example underscores how advancements in imaging technology and evolving scientific knowledge can transform our understanding of astronomical objects and their nomenclature.
This latest capture of Messier 77 is not Hubble’s first; an earlier image was released in 2013. However, the current depiction benefits from newer observational data acquired through different filters and improved image processing techniques, enabling astronomers to unveil more intricate details of this remarkable galaxy.
Contact Information
Media Contact:
Claire Andreoli (claire.andreoli@nasa.gov)
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Source
science.nasa.gov