The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has released a remarkable image of the spiral galaxy UGC 10043, located approximately 150 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Serpens. This image offers a rare edge-on perspective, revealing the galaxy's disk as a distinct line in space, with prominent dust lanes obscuring its glow.
From this viewpoint, the galaxy's structure is highlighted, including an egg-shaped bulge at its center, which is characteristic of spiral galaxies. The bulge's unusual size may be attributed to UGC 10043 drawing material from a nearby dwarf galaxy, contributing to the warping of its disk.
The image is a composite of data collected over 23 years, showcasing Hubble's ability to provide long-term astronomical observations. This ongoing archive of data enhances the understanding of celestial bodies and their evolution over time.