Image of a jellyfish galaxy captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. (Image zoomed in to show detail. See the wider view below) Credit: ESA/Hubble and NASA, M. Gullieuszik
In this image from the Hubble Space Telescope, a jellyfish galaxy with trailing tentacles of stars floats in inky blackness. This particular jellyfish galaxy — named Cetus — is located within the constellation Cetus, which has an ancient Greek name.
Image of a jellyfish galaxy from the Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: ESA/Hubble and NASA, M. Gullieuszik
Astronomers believe that the tendrils of jellyfish galaxies extend beyond the bright disc of the galaxy's core. This particular observation comes from an investigation into the sizes, masses, and ages of the clumps of star formation in the tendrils of jellyfish galaxies.
WFC3, a versatile instrument that captures images at ultraviolet and visible wavelengths, has captured this galactic seascape, from a view of Jupiter and Europa to a revisit to the Creation Pillars.
Jellyfish galaxies are a group of galaxies that have long "tentacles" or "tails" of gas, dust, and stars that appear to be streaming away from the galaxy's main body, giving them a jellyfish-like appearance. These tentacles are formed when the galaxy moves rapidly through the hot gas of a galaxy cluster, causing the gas to break away from the galaxy and form a tail. This process is known as ram-pressure stripping, and it
