This Galaxy Was Mistaken for a Star Cluster – Then Hubble Revealed Its Tentacles

This Galaxy Was Mistaken for a Star Cluster – Then Hubble Revealed Its Tentacles

Once mistaken for a fuzzy star cluster, the stunning Squid Galaxy—formally known as Messier 77—has transformed in the eyes of astronomers over the centuries. Originally discovered in the 1700s by comet hunters, this bright spiral galaxy eluded proper classification until scientists realized it was far beyond the Milky Way. Now, thanks to the Hubble Space [...]

Spiral Galaxy Messier 77

Spiral Galaxy Messier 77 | Hubble Space TelescopeThe NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope has captured this vivid image of spiral galaxy Messier 77—a galaxy in the constellation of Cetus, about 45 million light-years away from us. The streaks of red and blue in the image highlight pockets of star formation along the pinwheeling arms with dark dust lanes stretching across the galaxy’s starry center. The galaxy belongs to a class of g…