The astronomers’ primary target is NGC 3511, an edge-on spiral galaxy. This remarkable galaxy is located 43 million light years away in the constellation Crater. This galaxy is the brightest and most massive of a complete survey designed primarily to ascertain the key properties of the star formation cycle in (mostly) local galaxies. Using the Hubble Space Telescope, researchers will analyze NGC 3511’s distinctive features, including its vibrant gas clouds and star clusters.
Aside from its scientific value, NGC 3511 is a remarkable object simply because of how it looks. It’s showing off tons of bright red gas clouds, which are huge signposts of current star formation. Many of these clouds wrap around groups of sparkling blue stars. This makes for a truly beautiful contrast that emphasizes the violent environment at play within our galaxy. The Hubble Space Telescope captures NGC 3511 from a unique vantage point, revealing that it is tilted by approximately 70 degrees. This orientation makes it an intermediate type of the Hubble Tuning Fork between face-on galaxies and edge-on galaxies.
Examining Star Formation
The biggest acquisition goal for Hubble’s observing of NGC 3511 was to inventory and age-date its stars. The stars we’re looking at are often less than a few million years old. They’re several times more massive than the sun. Our primary goal with this research is to enhance our understanding of the processes of star formation within galaxies like our own Milky Way.
Hubble will use five different filters that allow different wavelengths of light to pass through in this snapshot survey. One of these filters is a bandpass filter, designed to allow only a very specific wavelength of red light through. What makes this feature so important is its ability to trace red gas clouds, a signature of active star formation. By combining these high-energy and revolutionary imaging techniques, it is hoped that astronomers can learn more about the lifecycle of stars in NGC 3511.
Broader Implications
NGC 3511 is one of 55 nearby galaxies currently being studied by Hubble as part of this massive observing campaign. This survey reveals more fundamental discoveries about how stars are forming within each galaxy. It further deepens our knowledge of galactic evolution across cosmic time, all across the Universe.
Astronomers continue to study NGC 3511 and its stellar populations in great detail. They hope that this research will provide the missing link in understanding how galaxies are formed and developed through the ages. This research could have implications for understanding the future of our own galaxy, offering valuable insights into the processes that govern star formation.