NGC 4449: Close-up of a Small Galaxy
This is an image of NGC 4449, also called the small island galaxy, which is about 12 million light-years away. It is a fairly small galaxy. It has a width of less than 20,000 light-years, which makes it similiar in size to our Milky Way's satellite galaxy. This picture, taken by Hubble Space Telescope, has been reprocessed to show reddish glow of hydrogen gas. The reddish glow highlights the regions where stars are forming within the galaxy. It has several short-lived, massive stars. NGC 4449 is one of many galaxies found in the constellation of Canes Venatici. Its interactions with its nearby galaxies are thought to have influenced the star formation within NGC 4449. So, although large spiral galaxies usually get all the attention, NGC 4449 is a prime example of a small galaxy that can form beautiful stars as well.
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