Hubble’s View: Spiral Galaxy JO206 in Aquarius Resembles a Jellyfish Floating in Space
Hubble’s View: Spiral Galaxy JO206 in Aquarius Resembles a Jellyfish Floating in Space
Located approximately 700 million light-years away in the direction of the constellation Aquarius, the spiral galaxy JO206 is a mesmerizing celestial wonder. As part of the “IIZW108” galaxy cluster, JO206 showcases swirling arms adorned with the blue glow of young stars and the reddish hues of ionized hydrogen gas—both telltale signs of ongoing star formation.
The galaxy’s spiral arm appears stretched toward the lower right of the image, giving JO206 an uncanny resemblance to a jellyfish gracefully drifting through the dark cosmic ocean.
Hubble’s Captivating Image of JO206
The European Space Agency (ESA) explains that observations of JO206 were conducted as part of a study on star formation in “jellyfish galaxies.” These galaxies are characterized by tentacle-like structures formed as gas is slowly stripped away from them.
Within galaxy clusters, the space between galaxies is filled with intracluster gas. As galaxies move through this environment, they experience ram pressure, which gradually strips away their gas. This process creates the elongated “tentacles” trailing behind the moving galaxy. JO206’s distorted spiral arm and the faint trail extending toward the lower right of the image are believed to be results of this phenomenon.
Surprising Findings About Star Formation
According to ESA, researchers analyzing star formation in the tentacles of jellyfish galaxies discovered that the activity is remarkably similar to star formation in the galactic disk. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the differences in stellar birth processes under such extreme conditions.
The stunning image was created using data from Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3), incorporating six different filters spanning near-ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light. ESA released this as Hubble’s featured image for the week of June 5, 2023.
This cosmic jellyfish in Aquarius serves as a beautiful reminder of the dynamic processes shaping our universe, where even the most destructive forces can create breathtaking celestial art.
