Image of the Day: The Haunting Beauty of NGC 3190 --A Deadly Supernova Factory

This magnificent galaxy inspires us, again, to ask: does advanced life exist there? The fact that we have no proof of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe may simply mean that intelligent civilizations have all too finite lifetimes. NGC 3190 is a spiral galaxy of unbearable beauty in the constellation Leo. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1784. In 2002, astronomers uncovered one supernova in March in the southeastern part and then another team uncovered a second supernova on the other side two months later -sure destroyers of vicinity-based life.

The spectacular image below is the "Trio in Leo." There is actually a fourth member of this group which not shown- but the group also goes by another catalogued name of "Hickson 44." These galaxies are estimated to be 60 million light years away. The galaxy furthest to the left is an elliptical galaxy (NGC 3193) and is fairly devoid of detail. The top center of the image features NGC 3190.

The Daily Galaxy Via NASA/Hubble/Spitzer

Comments

[DwarfGalaxy]

So much dust, do those "people" live in perpetual darkness, do they even see a star in sky?

[Jack]

@DwarfGalaxy

If intelligent life has evolved in that galaxy, it will inevitably have evolved on a planet that is orbiting a star. Most of the "dust" you see in the picture are (is?) large interstellar clouds of mostly Hydrogen gas. If any life does exist in that galaxy, any large quantities of dust would have either been used as fuel for the star or been used to form the planets that orbit said star. It is highly unlikely that there are large clumps of "dust" (of the magnitude necessary to block out your local star) that would exist in an otherwise normal star system.

[DwarfGalaxy]

thanks

[Vhince]

Amazing photo, so beautiful.

[trevor hay]

its funny if you think about it because we just got lucky in our existence. we (humans) are the perfect distance from the sun to live and not be burnt alive or frozen to death. does extra-terrestrial life exist? probably. will we see it? probably not. because in the end, the stars are unlimited, yet, we are limited. - Trajhver

[Zodiac dates]

Nice image

[Pevonia]

I am really impressed by this blog! Very clear explanation of issues is given and it is open to everyone.