Hubble Space Telescope, in its ongoing mission to explore the universe, is sharing a new image of a galaxy every day until October 7. The latest reveal is an intermediate spiral galaxy, NGC 4654, located in the constellation Virgo. This galaxy, approximately 55 million light-years away from Earth, is characterised by a bright center and swirling starry arms. NGC 4654 is classified as an “intermediate” spiral galaxy due to its unique features that blend characteristics of both unbarred and barred spirals. It is situated just north of the celestial equator, making it visible from both the northern hemisphere and most parts of the southern hemisphere.
Astronomers have noted an asymmetric distribution of stars and neutral hydrogen gas in NGC 4654, a common trait among many galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. This asymmetry is believed to be a result of a process known as “ram pressure stripping.”
As NGC 4654 moves through a superheated plasma primarily composed of hydrogen, known as the “intracluster medium,” the gravitational pull of the Virgo galaxy cluster exerts pressure on it. This pressure, akin to a gust of wind felt by a biker on a still day, strips NGC 4654 of its gas, forming a long, thin tail of hydrogen gas on the southeastern side of the galaxy.