Space and Science

Hubble spies the heart of a grand design spiral galaxy

Ashley Strickland
By Ashley Strickland, CNN
2 minute read
Published 12:11 PM EDT, Tue May 31, 2022
The Gemini North telescope captured an image of a bright new supernova in the Pinwheel Galaxy.
The Gemini North telescope captured an image of a bright new supernova in the Pinwheel Galaxy.
International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA
The ring-like shell of the first recorded supernova was captured by the Dark Energy Camera on the Víctor M. Blanco Telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. The glowing debris marks where a white dwarf star exploded more than 1,800 years ago and was recorded by Chinese astronomers in the year 185.
The ring-like shell of the first recorded supernova was captured by the Dark Energy Camera on the Víctor M. Blanco Telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. The glowing debris marks where a white dwarf star exploded more than 1,800 years ago and was recorded by Chinese astronomers in the year 185.
CTIO/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA
This artist's illustration shows the large, puffy star Gaia17bpp being partially eclipsed by a dust cloud that surrounds its mysterious smaller companion star.
This artist's illustration shows the large, puffy star Gaia17bpp being partially eclipsed by a dust cloud that surrounds its mysterious smaller companion star.
Anastasios Tzanidakis
An image of the Sh2-54 Nebula was taken in infrared light using the European Southern Observatory's VISTA telescope at Paranal Observatory in Chile.
An image of the Sh2-54 Nebula was taken in infrared light using the European Southern Observatory's VISTA telescope at Paranal Observatory in Chile.
ESO/VVVX
The Gemini North telescope captured a pair of galaxies, NGC 4567 (top) and NGC 4568 (bottom), as they collide. Nicknamed the Butterfly galaxies, they will eventually merge as a single galaxy in 500 million years.
The Gemini North telescope captured a pair of galaxies, NGC 4567 (top) and NGC 4568 (bottom), as they collide. Nicknamed the Butterfly galaxies, they will eventually merge as a single galaxy in 500 million years.
International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA
The Hubble Space Telescope captured a spectacular head-on view of the grand design spiral galaxy NGC 3631, located about 53 million light-years away.
The Hubble Space Telescope captured a spectacular head-on view of the grand design spiral galaxy NGC 3631, located about 53 million light-years away.
NASA; ESA; A. Filippenko; D. Sand
This collection of 37 images from the Hubble Space Telescope, taken between 2003 and 2021, includes galaxies that are all hosts to both Cepheid variables and supernovae. They serve as cosmic tools to measure astronomical distance and refine the expansion rate of the universe.
This collection of 37 images from the Hubble Space Telescope, taken between 2003 and 2021, includes galaxies that are all hosts to both Cepheid variables and supernovae. They serve as cosmic tools to measure astronomical distance and refine the expansion rate of the universe.
NASA/ESA/Adam G. Riess (STScI, JHU)
This is the first image of Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy, captured by the Event Horizon Telescope project.
This is the first image of Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy, captured by the Event Horizon Telescope project.
European Southern Observatory/EHT Collaboration
Two galaxies, NGC 1512 and NGC 1510, appear to dance in this image from the Dark Energy Camera. The galaxies have been in the process of merging for 400 million years, which has ignited waves of star formation and warped both galaxies.
Two galaxies, NGC 1512 and NGC 1510, appear to dance in this image from the Dark Energy Camera. The galaxies have been in the process of merging for 400 million years, which has ignited waves of star formation and warped both galaxies.
NSF's NOIRLab/Dark Energy Survey
This illustration shows exocomets orbiting the nearby star Beta Pictoris. Astronomers have detected at least 30 exocomets in the system, which also hosts two exoplanets.
This illustration shows exocomets orbiting the nearby star Beta Pictoris. Astronomers have detected at least 30 exocomets in the system, which also hosts two exoplanets.
Calcada
This artist's impression shows a two-star system, with a white dwarf (foreground) and a companion star (background), where a micronova explosion can occur. Although these stellar explosions are smaller than supernovae, they can be intensely powerful.
This artist's impression shows a two-star system, with a white dwarf (foreground) and a companion star (background), where a micronova explosion can occur. Although these stellar explosions are smaller than supernovae, they can be intensely powerful.
Mark A. Garlick/European Southern Observatory
This sequence of images shows how the solid nucleus (or the "dirty snowball" heart) of Comet C/2014 UN271 was isolated from a vast shell of dust and gas to measure it. Scientists believe the nucleus could be 85 miles across.
This sequence of images shows how the solid nucleus (or the "dirty snowball" heart) of Comet C/2014 UN271 was isolated from a vast shell of dust and gas to measure it. Scientists believe the nucleus could be 85 miles across.
NASA/ESA/Man-To Hui (MUST)/David Jewitt (UCLA)
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured an image of the most distant star yet: Earendel, which is nearly 13 billion light-years away.
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured an image of the most distant star yet: Earendel, which is nearly 13 billion light-years away.
NASA/ESA/Brian Welch (JHU)/Dan Coe (STScI)/Alyssa Pagan (STScI)
Astronomers have imaged a space phenomena called odd radio circles using the Australian SKA Pathfinder telescope. These space rings are so massive that they measure about a million light-years across -- 16 times bigger than our Milky Way galaxy.
Astronomers have imaged a space phenomena called odd radio circles using the Australian SKA Pathfinder telescope. These space rings are so massive that they measure about a million light-years across -- 16 times bigger than our Milky Way galaxy.
Jayanne English (U. Manitoba)
This illustration shows what happens when two large celestial bodies collide in space, creating a debris cloud. NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope saw a debris cloud block the light of the star HD 166191.
This illustration shows what happens when two large celestial bodies collide in space, creating a debris cloud. NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope saw a debris cloud block the light of the star HD 166191.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Some 4.4 million space objects billions of light-years away have been mapped by astronomers, including 1 million space objects that hadn't been spotted before. The observations were made by the sensitive Low Frequency Array telescope, known as LOFAR.
Some 4.4 million space objects billions of light-years away have been mapped by astronomers, including 1 million space objects that hadn't been spotted before. The observations were made by the sensitive Low Frequency Array telescope, known as LOFAR.
Annalisa Bonafede
An unusual triangle shape formed by two galaxies crashing together in a cosmic tug-of-war has been captured in a new image taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The head-on collision between the two galaxies fueled a star-forming frenzy, creating "the oddball triangle of newly minted stars."
An unusual triangle shape formed by two galaxies crashing together in a cosmic tug-of-war has been captured in a new image taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The head-on collision between the two galaxies fueled a star-forming frenzy, creating "the oddball triangle of newly minted stars."
J. Dalcanton/Space Telescope Science Institute/NASA
This image of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A combines some of the first X-ray data collected by NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, shown in magenta, with high-energy X-ray data from NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory, in blue.
This image of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A combines some of the first X-ray data collected by NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, shown in magenta, with high-energy X-ray data from NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory, in blue.
NASA/CXC/SAO/IXPE
This image shows the Milky Way as viewed from Earth. The star icon shows the position of a mysterious repeating transient. The spinning space object beamed out radiation three times per hour and became the brightest source of radio waves viewable from Earth, acting like a celestial lighthouse.
This image shows the Milky Way as viewed from Earth. The star icon shows the position of a mysterious repeating transient. The spinning space object beamed out radiation three times per hour and became the brightest source of radio waves viewable from Earth, acting like a celestial lighthouse.
Dr Natasha Hurley-Walker/ICRAR/Curtin
This Hubble Space Telescope image shows the dwarf galaxy Henize 2-10, which is filled with young stars. The bright center, surrounded by pink clouds, indicates the location of its black hole and areas of star birth.
This Hubble Space Telescope image shows the dwarf galaxy Henize 2-10, which is filled with young stars. The bright center, surrounded by pink clouds, indicates the location of its black hole and areas of star birth.
NASA, ESA, Zachary Schutte (XGI), Amy Reines (XGI), Alyssa Pagan (STScI)
This image shows the Flame Nebula and its surroundings captured in radio waves.
This image shows the Flame Nebula and its surroundings captured in radio waves.
Th. Stanke/ESO
This artist's impression showcases a red supergiant star in the final year of its life emitting a tumultuous cloud of gas, experiencing significant internal changes before exploding in a supernova.
This artist's impression showcases a red supergiant star in the final year of its life emitting a tumultuous cloud of gas, experiencing significant internal changes before exploding in a supernova.
The Astrophysical Journal/Northwestern University
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The Hubble Space Telescope has looked straight into the heart of a stunning galaxy.

The observatory captured this head-on view of a grand design spiral galaxy, called NGC 3631, located about 53 million light-years away from Earth. The celestial system can be found in the direction of the Ursa Major constellation.

These distinctive galaxies have arms that seem to wrap around the galaxy’s structure, as well as into the heart of the galaxy.

Spanning from 2003 to 2021, this collection of 37 images from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope features galaxies that are all hosts to both Cepheid variables and supernovae. These two celestial phenomena are both crucial tools used by astronomers to determine astronomical distance, and have been used to refine our measurement of Hubble's constant, the expansion rate of the Universe.
Spanning from 2003 to 2021, this collection of 37 images from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope features galaxies that are all hosts to both Cepheid variables and supernovae. These two celestial phenomena are both crucial tools used by astronomers to determine astronomical distance, and have been used to refine our measurement of Hubble's constant, the expansion rate of the Universe.
NASA/ESA/Adam G. Riess (STScI, JHU)

Related article Hubble identifies unusual wrinkle in expansion rate of the universe

The arms of NGC 3631 are filled with bright regions where stars are being born, as well as dark, dusty areas.

Stars form within the spiral arms due to a logjam of material. More slowly moving material within the galaxy can stall, bringing the gas and dust needed to make stars together within the inner part of the spiral arms.

As this buildup of matter grows more dense, it experiences a gravitational collapse, leading to the birth of new stars. Star formation can be seen in bright blue-white in the new Hubble image. Other shades of blue represent visible light and the orange showcase infrared light, which is otherwise invisible to the human eye.

This image was created using data from Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 and Advanced Camera for Surveys.

Spiral galaxies are incredibly common across the universe, whereas grand design spirals are rarer. They stand out because of their very well-defined spiral arms.