December 23, 2024

The Great Galactic Misconception: Uncovering True Distances in Space

By ESA/Hubble December 27, 2023Hubble Space Telescope image including the spiral galaxies NGC 1356, LEDA 467699, LEDA 95415, and IC 1947. Credit: ESA/Hubble & & NASA, J. Dalcanton, Dark Energy Survey/DOE/FNAL/ NOIRLab/NSF/AURA, Acknowledgment: L. ShatzThis Hubble Picture of the Week features a richness of spiral galaxies: the big, prominent spiral galaxy on the ideal side of the image is NGC 1356; the two obviously smaller sized spiral galaxies flanking it are LEDA 467699 (above it) and LEDA 95415 (very close at its left) respectively; and lastly, IC 1947 sits along the left side of the image.This image is a really intriguing example of how challenging it can be to inform whether two galaxies are really close together, or simply appear to be from our perspective here on Earth. A quick glance at this image would likely lead you to believe that NGC 1356, LEDA 467699, and LEDA 95415 were all close buddies, while IC 1947 was more remote.