Hubble Seeks Clusters in ‘Lost Galaxy’
**Exploring the Mysteries of the ‘Lost Galaxy’: Hubble’s Latest Discoveries**
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope continues to unveil the secrets of the universe with its latest captivating image of the spiral galaxy NGC 4535, located approximately 50 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. Often referred to as the ‘Lost Galaxy’ due to its faint visibility through smaller telescopes, NGC 4535 reveals a stunning display of cosmic beauty when observed with Hubble’s powerful capabilities. With a mirror measuring nearly eight feet in diameter, Hubble’s vantage point above Earth’s atmosphere allows it to capture intricate details of distant galaxies like NGC 4535, showcasing its magnificent spiral arms and a central bar of stars.
The newly released image highlights clusters of young stars scattered across NGC 4535’s spiral arms, surrounded by vibrant glowing-pink clouds known as H II regions. These regions are indicative of the presence of young, massive stars that emit high-energy radiation, significantly influencing their surroundings. The interaction between these stars and their birth clouds generates powerful stellar winds, which can eventually lead to supernova explosions. This latest observation is part of a broader initiative to catalog around 50,000 H II regions in star-forming galaxies, enhancing our understanding of how young stars interact with cold gas in their environments. The image builds on previous observations from the PHANGS observing program, which aims to deepen our knowledge of star formation processes in the universe.
Hubble’s ongoing mission not only provides stunning visuals but also plays a crucial role in advancing our scientific understanding of cosmic phenomena. As we celebrate over three decades of Hubble’s contributions to astronomy, this latest image of NGC 4535 stands as a testament to the telescope’s enduring legacy in exploring the universe’s vast mysteries. Each new discovery not only enriches our comprehension of star formation and galaxy evolution but also inspires future generations of astronomers and space enthusiasts eager to unravel the wonders of the cosmos.
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2 min read
Hubble Seeks Clusters in ‘Lost Galaxy’
This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image features the spiral galaxy NGC 4535.
ESA/Hubble & NASA, F. Belfiore, J. Lee and the PHANGS-HST Team
Today’s NASA/ESA
Hubble Space Telescope
image features the spiral galaxy NGC 4535, which is situated about 50 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo (the Maiden). Through a small telescope, this galaxy appears extremely faint, giving it the nickname ‘Lost Galaxy’. With a mirror spanning nearly eight feet (2.4 meters) across and its location above Earth’s light-obscuring atmosphere, Hubble can easily observe dim galaxies like NGC 4535 and pick out features like its massive spiral arms and central bar of stars.
This image features NGC 4535’s young star clusters, which dot the galaxy’s spiral arms. Glowing-pink clouds surround many of these bright-blue star groupings. These clouds, called H II (‘H-two’) regions, are a sign that the galaxy is home to especially young, hot, and massive stars that blaze with high-energy radiation. Such massive stars shake up their surroundings by heating their birth clouds with powerful stellar winds, eventually exploding as supernovae.
The image incorporates data from an observing program designed to catalog roughly 50,000 H II regions in nearby star-forming galaxies like NGC 4535. Hubble released a previous image of
NGC 4535 in 2021
. Both the 2021 image and this new image incorporate observations from the
PHANGS observing program
, which seeks to understand the connections between young stars and cold gas. Today’s image adds a new dimension to our understanding of NGC 4535 by capturing the brilliant red glow of the nebulae that encircle massive stars in their first few million years of life.
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Media Contact
:
Claire Andreoli
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claire.andreoli@nasa.gov
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NASA’s
Goddard Space Flight Center
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Last Updated
Nov 21, 2025
Editor
Andrea Gianopoulos
Location
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Related Terms
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Astrophysics
Astrophysics Division
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Goddard Space Flight Center
Science Mission Directorate
Spiral Galaxies
Star Clusters
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