Astronomers from the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) have released striking images of five galaxies located in close proximity to Earth, obtained using the Italian VST (VLT Survey Telescope) in Chile.
The images showcase the shapes, colors, and star distributions of these galaxies with remarkable clarity, including their outermost regions. The five galaxies are situated between approximately 4 million and 30 million light-years from Earth.
Among them, two irregular galaxies, NGC 3109 and Sextans A, are positioned at the edge of the Local Group, which contains our Milky Way. The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (M83), a prominent spiral galaxy, is located about 15 million light-years away. The irregular galaxy NGC 5253 is 11 million light-years distant, while the spiral galaxy IC 5332 is the furthest at 30 million light-years.
These observations were conducted using three filters as part of the VST-SMASH survey, led by Dr. Crescenzo Tortora from INAF in Naples. The project's objective is to illuminate the processes of galaxy formation and evolution, including star creation within galaxies and the effects of mergers with other galaxies.
Dr. Tortora stated, "We want to understand how galaxies form and grow, which includes studying how stars form within galaxies and how galaxies merge to accumulate stars from other sources." The research team is also examining faint structures and small, dim galaxies orbiting the larger ones, which aids in tracing remnants of galactic interactions and understanding the formation of cosmic structures over time.
The VST telescope, equipped with a 2.6-meter mirror, excels at capturing wide-field images, covering an area four times larger than the full moon and gathering deep data in just 10 hours. Achieving similar detail with the Hubble Space Telescope would require significantly more time.
This capability makes the VST particularly effective for studying galaxies at very low brightness levels, a feat that was nearly impossible just a few years ago. While upcoming telescopes like the Vera Rubin Observatory and the Euclid satellite will achieve similar observational depths, the VST's unique features continue to render it an invaluable tool.
Dr. Tortora remarked, "This is the first time these galaxies have been studied in such depth and detail with consistent data. The VST gives us a head start on exploring the mysteries of the universe." As the team proceeds with their analysis, they anticipate further significant discoveries. These observations represent not only stunning visuals but also progress in understanding the origins of galaxies like our own Milky Way.