Hubble’s Latest Marvel: A Supernova Lights Up an Unknown Galaxy

This ethereal Hubble Space Telescope image features the galaxy LEDA 857074, located in the constellation Eridanus. LEDA 857074 is a barred spiral galaxy, with partially broken spiral arms. It also has a particularly bright spot right in its bar: this is a supernova snapped by Hubble, named SN 2022ADQZ.

From galaxies to nebulae and star clusters, to planets in the Solar System and beyond, the Hubble Space Telescope has observed a vast range of celestial objects. Observing programs usually seek to gather data so that astronomers can answer a specific question. Naturally, this means most scheduled observations target an object that astronomers have already researched.

Some are famous, like the Crab Nebula (see image below) or the globular cluster Omega Centauri; others might not be so well known to the public, but still be featured in hundreds of scientific papers, such as the Spider Galaxy or NGC 4753.