NASA unveils mesmerising 'sparkly snow globe' galaxy image, captivates social media

NASA continues to astound space enthusiasts with its breathtaking images of the cosmos, and its recent upload on Instagram showcasing galaxy UGC 8091 has left the internet captivated.

The space agency's Instagram handle, known for its wealth of educational content and stunning space visuals, shared a remarkable picture of the galaxy UGC 8091, drawing comparisons to a "sparkly snow globe."

This particular galaxy, situated 7 million light-years away within the Virgo constellation, adds a celestial festive touch just ahead of the holiday season.

Describing the galactic wonder, NASA's Instagram post wrote, "Walking in a galactic wonderland! In the constellation Virgo about 7 million light-years from Earth, you'll find a billion stars in this dwarf galaxy. It's considered an irregular galaxy because of its unorderly shape which resembles a space version of a sparkly snow globe."

The captivating image of UGC 8091 was constructed using data collected from NASA Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 and the Advanced Camera for Surveys. The amalgamation of twelve camera filters offered a stunning visual representation of the dwarf galaxy.

Detailing the creation of the image, NASA explained that the red patches in the image signify light emitted by hydrogen molecules from hot, energetic stars formed during recent starbursts. Meanwhile, the other gleaming lights represent a mixture of older stars within the galaxy.

This dwarf galaxy, UGC 8091, holds a billion stars, each contributing to the visual magnificence seen in the image. A spectrum of colors, including blue and orange hues, illuminates the galaxy, with prominent blue patches dominating its central region. Circular regions of red or pink gas within the galaxy further add to its striking appearance.

Scientists are currently investigating the composition of dwarf galaxies and their stars to uncover the evolutionary connections between these ancient galaxies and more contemporary ones like our own Milky Way.

The Instagram post has garnered significant attention, amassing over 241,000 likes and eliciting enthusiastic responses in the comments section.