NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope recently captured a stunning image of NGC 7722, a lenticular galaxy located about 187 million light-years away in the constellation Pegasus. Lenticular galaxies, also known as “lens-shaped” galaxies, fall between spiral and elliptical galaxies in terms of classification. They are less common than their spiral and elliptical counterparts, mainly due to their ambiguous appearance, which makes it challenging to determine their exact classification.
This detailed image showcases NGC 7722’s intricate concentric rings of dust and gas swirling around its bright nucleus. This particular galaxy’s unique features make it a compelling subject of study for astronomers and space enthusiasts alike. To delve deeper into this fascinating celestial observation, you can learn more about it on the NASA website.
Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. J. Foley (UC Santa Cruz), Dark Energy Survey/DOE/FNAL/DECam/CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA; Acknowledgment: Mehmet Yüksek
Original Source: NASA