Posted on 09/14/2023 12:17:50 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: Big, beautiful spiral galaxy NGC 7331 is often touted as an analog to our own Milky Way. About 50 million light-years distant in the northern constellation Pegasus, NGC 7331 was recognized early on as a spiral nebula and is actually one of the brighter galaxies not included in Charles Messier's famous 18th century catalog. Since the galaxy's disk is inclined to our line-of-sight, long telescopic exposures often result in images that evokes a strong sense of depth. The effect is further enhanced in this sharp image by galaxies that lie beyond the gorgeous island universe. The most prominent background galaxies are about one tenth the apparent size of NGC 7331 and so lie roughly ten times farther away. Their close alignment on the sky with NGC 7331 occurs just by chance. Lingering above the plane of the Milky Way, this striking visual grouping of galaxies is known to some as the Deer Lick Group.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
Nice! It’s a mystery as to why Charles Messier didn’t include this one on his list.
It’s certainly bright enough.
Wow.
If Charles Messier had Hubble and Webb space telescopes, just think how busy he would have been.
That is a picture to force you to ask about just how unique is the human race.
Some preach that can be no other race as smart as us out there.
Any race exactly as smart as us would probably self eliminate in short order.
Jury is still out on us...
Great point!
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