NASA's hubble telescope spots asteroid trail while hunting supernova in distant galaxy

NASA's hubble telescope spots asteroid trail while hunting supernova in distant galaxy (Image: Hubble and NASA/ESA)

The image of a bright plume from an asteroid drifting through space was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. Astronomers, while attempting to locate supernovae using Hubble, inadvertently came across this unexpected visitor.

The picture features the barred spiral galaxy NGC 6000 in the constellation Scorpius, located about 102 million light-years away from Earth.

What Was Hubble Hunting?

Hubble’s mission was to detect and analyse supernova explosions. This mission involve the colossal deaths of stars that brighten galaxies. This will help scientists study the expansion of universe. However, during several long-exposure observations using various colour filters, astronomers noticed a faint moving object within the image frame. This image from Hubble telescope is space photo of the week.

The Asteroid’s Signature

The asteroid’s passage created red and blue dotted streaks across the image. These broken lines result from the red and blue filters used by the telescope and reveal subtle changes in its motion. This confirms that the intruder lies within our own Solar System.

How Astronomers Interpreted the Image

The yellow centre of the galaxy differs with its bluish helical rings. This is due to the older stars being on the centre and the younger, hotter stars being on the sides. Although this was an unforeseen disruption, the photo gives useful information regarding the evolution and movement of stars in the NGC 6000.

A Cosmic Coincidence

This encounter highlights that even focused astronomical projects can lead to unexpected discoveries. Scientists are reminded that the universe still holds an endless array of surprises. Such events not only produce captivating imagery but also contribute valuable data on the motion and composition of asteroids within our Solar System.