Hubble Sights Galaxy in Transition
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured an image of the lenticular galaxy NGC 1266, located 100 million light-years away. This galaxy exhibits a bright center and hints of spiral structure, despite lacking obvious spiral arms. Lenticular galaxies like NGC 1266 serve as a transitional form between spiral and elliptical galaxies.
- ▪NGC 1266 is classified as a lenticular galaxy.
- ▪It is located in the constellation Eridanus.
- ▪The galaxy is approximately 100 million light-years away from Earth.
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1 min readHubble Sights Galaxy in TransitionNASA Hubble Mission TeamGoddard Space Flight CenterMay 21, 2026 Image Article NASA, ESA, K. Alatalo (STScI); Image Processing: G. Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America) This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image reveals an enigmatic galaxy with a bright center and a face that hints at spiral structure, yet it holds no obvious spiral arms. Reddish-brown clumps and filaments of dust partially obscure the galaxy’s full face, while red, blue, and orange light from distant galaxies shines through its diffuse outer regions and dots the inky-black background. NGC 1266 is a lenticular galaxy located some 100 million light-years away in the constellation Eridanus (the Celestial River).
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