The Hubble Space Telescope imaged the galaxy NGC 6782. When viewed in visible light, two broken arms are seen, similar to many spiral galaxies. When viewed in the ultraviolet light the figure is completely different.
Avi Blizovsky
The appearance of galaxies reaching us on Earth can be different depending on the color of the light that encodes them. The Hubble Space Telescope imaged the galaxy NGC 6782 and this galaxy demonstrates the effect. When viewed in visible light, two broken arms are seen, similar to many spiral galaxies. When viewed in the ultraviolet light emanating from it through the Hubble Space Telescope, the figure is completely different.
The photo was taken in June 2000 as part of an ultraviolet observation of 37 neighboring galaxies. The colors of the image were composed of several different photographs, each time a different color was isolated - ultraviolet, blue, unobstructed visible light and infrared light.
Credits: NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
Acknowledgment: R. Windhorst (ASU)
