The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured a striking new photo of the irregular galaxy IC 10.
This Hubble image shows the irregular galaxy IC 10. The image is made up of observations from Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) in the optical part of the spectrum. It is based on data obtained through three filters. The color results from assigning different hues to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / F. Bauer.
IC 10 is a member of the Local Group, a collection of over 50 galaxies within our cosmic neighborhood that includes the Milky Way Galaxy.
Located within the boundaries of the northern constellation Cassiopeia, this galaxy is approximately 5,000 light-years across.
As an irregular galaxy, it lacks the majestic shape of spiral galaxies such as the Milky Way, or the rounded, ethereal appearance of elliptical galaxies.
Also known as LEDA 1305, UGC 192 and 2MASX J00201733+5918136, IC 10 is the closest-known starburst galaxy to us, meaning that it is undergoing a furious bout of star formation fueled by ample supplies of cool hydrogen gas.
This gas congeals into vast molecular clouds, which then condense into dense knots where pressures and temperatures reach a point sufficient to ignite nuclear fusion, thus giving rise to new generations of stars.
IC 10’s infant stars are massive and intrinsically very bright, including luminous X-ray binary systems thought to contain black holes.
This galaxy was first discovered in 1887 by the American astronomer Lewis Swift, who erroneously identified it as a nebula.
In 1935, the American observational astronomer Nicholas Mayall became the first to suggest that IC 10 is extragalactic.
The small galaxy remains difficult to study even today, because it is located along a line of sight which is chock-full of cosmic dust and stars.
