Photo credit: www.nasa.gov
Exploring Messier 77: The Squid Galaxy
The recent image captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope showcases the intricate beauty of the spiral galaxy Messier 77, commonly referred to as the Squid Galaxy. Located 45 million light-years away in the constellation Cetus, also known as The Whale, this galaxy offers a glimpse into the complex structures of the universe.
The designation Messier 77 originates from the catalog established by French astronomer Charles Messier. Discovered in 1780 by fellow French astronomer Pierre Méchain, both researchers were primarily known for their comet-hunting endeavors. They meticulously documented celestial objects that could potentially be confused with comets, leading to the inclusion of Messier 77 in their catalog.
At the time of its discovery, Messier, Méchain, and their contemporaries inaccurately classified the Squid Galaxy as either a spiral nebula or a star cluster. This confusion is understandable given the limited observational technology of the era. It would take over a century for astronomers to definitively identify spiral nebulae, such as Messier 77, as separate galaxies situated millions of light-years from our own. The initial observations made through small telescopes revealed an intensely bright core surrounded by a diffuse cloud, resembling stars enveloped in a nebula.
The moniker ‘Squid Galaxy’ is a more contemporary label, inspired by the extended, filament-like structures that gracefully coil around the galaxy’s disk, evocative of a squid’s tentacles. This renaming serves as a reminder of how advancements in observation techniques and scientific comprehension have transformed our understanding of astronomical entities, sometimes even reshaping their names.
Hubble’s previous imaging of M77 dates back to 2013. The latest release integrates newer observations utilizing a variety of filters alongside modern image processing methods, allowing for a more detailed representation of this fascinating galaxy.
Source
www.nasa.gov