This remarkable spiral galaxy, known as NGC 4651, may look serene
and peaceful as it swirls in the vast, silent emptiness of space, but don’t be
fooled — it keeps a violent secret. It is believed that this galaxy consumed
another smaller galaxy to become the large and beautiful spiral that we observe
today.
Although only a
telescope like the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, which captured this
image, could give us a picture this clear, NGC 4651 can also be observed with
an amateur telescope — so if you have a telescope at home and a star-gazing
eye, look out for this glittering carnivorous spiral.
Image
credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, D. Leonard
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