[New Tang Dynasty Beijing Time June 2, 2025]NASA (NASA)ofHuber Space Telescope(Hubble Space Telescope) Take a photo of a look likewindmillThe beautygalaxyNGC 3507, which looks very different from its companion galaxy NGC 3501.
NASAIt was announced on May 30 byHuber Space TelescopePhotographedspiralgalaxyPictures of NGC 3507. The galaxy is located in Leo, about 46 million light-years from Earth.
NGC 3507 is classified as a rod spiral galaxy. The rod-rotary galaxy is aspiralGalaxy, such galaxies have short rod structures formed by stars in the middle, and their spiral arms usually extend from the end of the short rod, rather than from the center of the galaxy.
Although NGC 3507 is presented separately in the picture, it actually has a companion galaxy, NGC 3501, and the two exist in pairs. NGC 3501 is located outside the picture frame and cannot be seen in the picture.
NGC 3507 is typicalwindmillThe shape, while the NGC 3501 looks like a mercury stripe in the sky. Although these two galaxies look completely different, they are both spiral galaxies, and the differences presented are caused by different observation angles.
For galaxies that are only tens of millions of light years away from the Earth, such as NGC 3507 and NGC 3501, their spiral arms, dust and gas clouds and bright star clusters are clearly visible, but the details of distant galaxies are not easily observed.
You can try to find the distant galaxies in this picture. They tend to be orange or yellow, and may be round, star or narrow and slender shapes with marks of spiral arms.
Astronomers used instruments called spectrometers to separate light from these distant galaxies to study the properties of these celestial bodies in the early universe.
In addition, on May 28, NASA also released pictures of three galaxies arranged in front and back by the Huber Space Telescope.
Among these three galaxies, the farthest is HerS 020941.1+001557, about 19.5 billion light-years away from the Earth. It presents a red arc, partially surrounding the foreground galaxy SDSS J020941.27+001558.4, about 2.7 billion light-years away from the Earth.
SDSS J020941.27+001558.4 presents a highlight in the center of the picture, with its core covering the outwardly with a large fog of light composed of stars. The third galaxy, called SDSS J020941.23+001600.7, seems to intersect part of the curved, crescent-shaped red light generated by HerS 020941.1+001557.
The arrangement of these three galaxies forms a gravity lens called the Einstein ring. Gravity lenses not only bend and distort light from distant celestial bodies, but also magnify.
The Einstein ring appears when light from a distant celestial body bends around a huge intermediate celestial body. This is because space-time (the structure of the universe itself) is distorted by mass, so too is light that travels through space and time.
The Einstein ring can present a complete or partial halo around the foreground celestial bodies, depending on the accuracy of the front and back arrangement. The effect of this phenomenon is very subtle and cannot be seen on a local level, but it can be clearly observed when astronomers deal with the curvature of light on a huge astronomical scale.
In this picture, we can see the light from HerS 020941.1+001557 progressing along the space-time curve generated by SDSS J020941.27+001558.4. As these light passes through the gravity lens, it is enlarged and bent, thus forming a unique Einstein ring around the foreground galaxy SDSS J020941.27+001558.4.
(Reprinted from Epoch Times/Editor in charge: Ye Ping)
The website of this article: https://www.ntdtv.com/b5/2025/06/02/a103992341.html
Unveiling the Cosmos: A hubble Telescope Update and the wonders of Galactic Lenses
Time.news: Welcome, everyone, to Time.news. Today we’re diving deep into the latest stunning images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. Joining us to unravel these cosmic mysteries is Dr. Aris Thorne, a renowned astrophysicist specializing in galactic structures and gravitational lensing. Dr. Thorne, welcome to the show.
Dr. Thorne: Thank you for having me. It’s always a pleasure to discuss the wonders of the universe.
time.news: The article highlights two fascinating observations. Firstly, a lovely image of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 3507. Can you tell us a bit more about why this particular galaxy is so engaging to astronomers? What makes barred spiral galaxies special?
Dr. Thorne: NGC 3507 is a prime example of a barred spiral galaxy, and these are actually quite common – we believe about two-thirds of spiral galaxies have a “bar” structure in their centers.This bar, composed of stars and gas, acts like a cosmic conveyor belt, funneling material towards the galactic center. This can fuel star formation in the central regions and even contribute to the growth of a supermassive black hole, if one exists. Observing NGC 3507 helps us understand how these bars form and evolve, impacting the overall structure and activity of the galaxy. Its proximity to Earth, at only 46 million light-years, allows us to resolve fine details in its spiral arms, dust lanes, and star clusters.
Time.news: The article also mentions its companion galaxy, NGC 3501, but points out it wasn’t visible in the focus image and looks very different. How can two such seemingly disparate galaxies be considered companions?
Dr. Thorne: Galaxy pairs are quite common, gravitationally bound to each other. These interactions can have dramatic effects on both galaxies. While NGC 3507 presents a clear “windmill” shape, NGC 3501 is described as a “mercury stripe,” or likely an edge-on spiral galaxy. Their different appearances are primarily a result of our viewing angle.We see NGC 3507 more face-on, showcasing its spiral arms, while we see NGC 3501 from the side. Despite these differences, they share a common gravitational dance, potentially influencing each other’s evolution. Understanding these interactions is critical to understanding galaxy formation.
Time.news: Moving on to the second observation, the article describes a spectacular “Einstein ring” formed by three galaxies aligned in a specific way.This sounds like something straight out of science fiction! Could you explain the concept of an Einstein ring in simpler terms and why it’s so important?
Dr. Thorne: It is truly mind-bending! An Einstein ring occurs when light from a very distant galaxy is bent and magnified by the gravity of a massive galaxy lying between it and us. this “gravitational lensing” effect is predicted by Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Think of it like a magnifying glass, but instead of glass, we’re using the gravity of a massive galaxy to bend and focus the light from a galaxy billions of light-years farther away. If the alignment is precise, this bent light can form a ring, known as an Einstein ring, around the foreground galaxy.
Time.news: And what do scientists hope to learn from observing these Einstein Rings?
Dr. Thorne: Einstein rings are invaluable tools for astronomers. They allow us to study galaxies that are normally too faint and distant to observe directly. The lensing effect magnifies the light from these background galaxies,revealing details about their composition,structure,and even their star formation rates. Furthermore, studying the distortion of the light helps us to accurately measure the mass of the foreground galaxy, including the elusive dark matter that makes up a significant portion of its mass. In the case of HerS 020941.1+001557, at a staggering 19.5 billion light-years away, the Einstein ring phenomenon provides us with a unique glimpse into the early universe.
Time.news: The article mentions “spectrometers” being used to analyze the light from these distant galaxies. What is the role of spectrometers in this type of research?
Dr. Thorne: Spectrometers play a crucial role in astrophysics. They separate light into its component colors, creating a spectrum much like a rainbow. By analyzing this spectrum, we can determine the chemical composition, temperature, density, and velocity of the light-emitting object. In the context of distant galaxies, spectrometers allow us to identify the elements present in their stars and gas clouds, revealing insights into the evolution of these galaxies over cosmic time. For example,analyzing the light from HerS 020941.1+001557 tells us about the conditions that existed in the universe when it was much younger.
Time.news: What are the implications of these Hubble observations for our understanding of the universe?
Dr Thorne: These observations perfectly capture the ongoing process of discovery in astronomy. studying galaxies like NGC 3507 and NGC 3501 helps us refine our models of galaxy formation and evolution, while the detection of Einstein rings gives us incredibly magnified portals into the far reaches of space-time. Each new image and spectrum from Hubble provides yet another piece of the cosmic puzzle. as we continue to learn and discover more, the deeper our understanding of the universe, and our place within it, becomes!
Time.news: Any practical advice for our readers who are interested in learning more about astronomy and following discoveries like these?
Dr. Thorne: Absolutely! Astronomy is a field that’s accessible to everyone. Start by exploring online resources like NASA’s website, which offers a wealth of details, images, and educational materials. Consider joining a local astronomy club or attending public stargazing events. Even with a small telescope or even binoculars you can observe many of these nebulae yourself while observing them from your backyard! Most importantly, never stop being curious. The universe is full of wonder,and there’s always something new to discover.
Time.news: Dr.Thorne, thank you so much for sharing your expertise with us today. it’s been a truly enlightening conversation.
Dr. Thorne: My pleasure. Keep looking up!
[[Keywords: Hubble Space Telescope, NGC 3507, NGC 3501, Einstein Ring, gravitational lensing, HerS 020941.1+001557, galaxy evolution, barred spiral galaxy, astrophysics, NASA, astronomy]
