Hubble Telescope Captures Image of Spiral Galaxy IC 4633

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured stunning image of spiral galaxy IC 4633, located 100 million light years away in constellation Apus.

Key Points

Stellar Richness: IC 4633 boasts billions of stars and is rich in star-forming activity, with an active galactic nucleus at its core.
Partial Obstruction: Dark dust clouds partially obstruct the galaxy's features, particularly the lower right portion, revealing the presence of dark nebula MW9, also known as the South Celestial Serpent.
Proximity to Milky Way: Dark nebula MW9 is located in the Chamaeleon star-forming region, approximately 500 light-years away in our Milky Way galaxy.
Integrated Flux Nebula: MW9 is classified as an integrated flux nebula (IFN), a faintly lit cloud of gas and dust in the Milky Way, not associated with any single star.
Extensive Study: Chamaeleon region, including dark nebula MW9, is extensively studied for its abundance of young stars, offering insights into star formation processes.
Observational Tools: Both Hubble Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope have captured images of the Chamaeleon region, particularly the star-rich cloud Cha I, contributing to our understanding of cosmic evolution.