May 13, 2024

Stellar Photobomber Crashes Hubble’s Party: The Unraveling Tale of Arp 263

The interloping foreground star, BD +17 2217, is embellished with two sets of crisscrossing diffraction spikes. The interaction of light with Hubbles internal structure indicates that focused intense objects such as stars are surrounded by 4 popular spikes. Because this image of BD +17 2217 was produced utilizing two sets of Hubble data, the spikes from both images surround this outstanding photobomber. Because Hubble was at different orientations when it collected the two datasets, the spikes are at various angles.

The galaxy, an outcome of two combined galaxies, was studied under 2 Hubble examinations, targeting residues of previous supernovae and unobserved peculiar galaxies in the Arp catalog. Two various Hubble investigations into Arp 263, utilizing 2 of Hubbles third-generation instruments, contributed information to this image. The 2nd examination is part of a campaign using Hubbles Advanced Camera for Surveys to image all the formerly unseen strange galaxies in the Arp catalog, consisting of Arp 263, in order to find appealing topics for further research study utilizing the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope.

By ESA/Hubble
July 17, 2023

Hubble Space Telescope picture of the irregular galaxy Arp 263 with the stellar photobomber BD +17 2217. The galaxy, a result of two combined galaxies, was studied under 2 Hubble examinations, targeting residues of past supernovae and unnoticed peculiar galaxies in the Arp brochure. Credit: ESA/Hubble & & NASA, J. Dalcanton, A. Filippenko
The Hubble Space Telescope has actually caught a picture of the irregular galaxy Arp 263, likewise referred to as NGC 3239, located 25 million light-years away in the constellation Leo. The image plainly features an excellent photobomber, BD +17 2217, showing distinct crisscrossing diffraction spikes due to the interaction of light with Hubbles internal structure and the different orientations during two datasets collection.
The irregular galaxy Arp 263 hides in the background of this image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, however the view is controlled by a stellar photobomber; the brilliant star BD +17 2217. Arp 263– also understood as NGC 3239– is an irregular, irregular galaxy studded with areas of current star development, and astronomers think that its rough appearance is due to its having formed from the merger of 2 galaxies. It lies around 25 million light-years away in the constellation Leo.
2 different Hubble investigations into Arp 263, utilizing 2 of Hubbles third-generation instruments, contributed data to this image. The 2nd examination is part of a project using Hubbles Advanced Camera for Surveys to image all the previously unobserved strange galaxies in the Arp catalog, consisting of Arp 263, in order to discover appealing topics for additional study using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope.