NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured an image of a big, beautiful spiral galaxy called NGC 7331. Located almost 50 million light-years distant in the northern constellation Pegasus, the galaxy was recognized early on as a spiral nebula. It is actually one of the brighter galaxies not included in Charles Messier’s famous 18th-century catalog.
The spiral galaxy NGC 7331 is often analogous to the Calea lactee. Its galaxy’s disk is inclined to our line of sight; long telescopic exposures often result in an image that evokes a strong sense of depth.
The majestic spiral arms of the galaxy have reddish active star-forming regions, dazzling bluish groupings of massive young stars, and dark concealing dust lanes. Populations of older, cooler stars can be seen in the brilliant, yellowish central regions.
