'Island Universe' in the Coma Cluster

[Swede]

A long-exposure Hubble Space Telescope image shows a majestic face-on spiral galaxy located deep within the Coma Cluster of galaxies, which lies 320 million light-years away in the northern constellation Coma Berenices.

The galaxy, known as NGC 4911, contains rich lanes of dust and gas near its center. These are silhouetted against glowing newborn star clusters and iridescent pink clouds of hydrogen, the existence of which indicates ongoing star formation. Hubble has also captured the outer spiral arms of NGC 4911, along with thousands of other galaxies of varying sizes. The high resolution of Hubble's cameras, paired with considerably long exposures, made it possible to observe these faint details.


http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/science/island-universe.html

[aquart]

1. "Coma Cluster"? Is there a Cancer Cluster?

[deutsey]

2. I'm always fascinated and awed by what Hubble reveals about the universe

I just wish there was a way to understand/envision how all of these images it's taking all fit together in a big picture, but it would probably hurt my brain too much.