NGC 7722 lies around 187 million light-years far from Earth in the constellation of Pegasus.

Understood as IRAS 23361 +1540, LEDA 71993 and UGC 12718, this lenticular galaxy was very first found by the German astronomer Heinrich Louis d’Arrest on August 12, 1864.

NGC 7722 belongs to the NGC 7711 group, an event of 7 big galaxies.

“A lenticular (lens-shaped) galaxy is a type that beings in between the more familiar spiral nebula and elliptical galaxies,” the Hubble astronomers stated in a declaration.

“It is likewise less typical than these– partially since when a galaxy has an unclear look, it can be difficult to figure out if it is really a spiral, an elliptical galaxy, or something in between.”

“Many of the recognized lenticular galaxies sport functions of both spiral and elliptical galaxies.”

“In this case, NGC 7722 does not have the specified arms of a spiral nebula, while it has actually an extended, radiant halo and an intense bulge in the center comparable to an elliptical galaxy,” they discussed.

“Unlike elliptical galaxies, it has a noticeable disk– concentric rings swirl around its brilliant nucleus.”

“Its most popular function, nevertheless, is certainly the long lanes of dark red dust coiling around the external disk and halo.”

The brand-new picture of NGC 7722 from Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) instrument brings the galaxy’s remarkable dust lanes into sharp focus.

“Bands of dust like this are not unusual in lenticular galaxies, and they stand apart versus the broad, smooth halo of light that usually surrounds lenticular galaxies,” the astronomers stated.

“The unique dust lanes of NGC 7722 are believed to arise from a merger with another galaxy in the past, comparable to other lenticular galaxies.”

“It is not yet completely comprehended how lenticular galaxies form, however mergers and other gravitational interactions are believed to play a fundamental part, improving galaxies and tiring their materials of gas while bringing brand-new dust.”