The Hubble Space Telescope has imaged the lenticular galaxy NGC 5283, a Seyfert galaxy with a visible structure and an active galactic nucleus. The observations are part of a dataset study to study the physics of AGNs, black holes and galaxy structures.

Lenticular galaxy NGC 5283 is the subject of this NASA Hubble Space Telescope image. NGC 5283 contains an active galactic nucleus, or AGN. An AGN is an extremely bright region at the center of a galaxy where a supermassive black hole exists. When dust and gas enter a black hole, matter heats up and emits light across the entire electromagnetic spectrum.

NGC 5283 is a Seyfert galaxy. About 10 percent of all galaxies are Seyfert galaxies, and they differ from other galaxies containing AGN in that the galaxy itself is highly visible. Other AGNs emit so much radiation that they obscure the structure of their host galaxy or make it impossible to observe!

Hubble observed this galaxy as part of a survey to gather data on nearby AGNs, which will serve as a resource for astronomers studying AGN physics, black holes, the structure of their host galaxy, and more.

Lenticular galaxies are a unique class of galaxies that share characteristics of both spiral and elliptical galaxies. These intermediate-type galaxies have a flattened disk structure similar to spiral galaxies, but lack prominent spiral arms. Instead, they have a smooth, featureless appearance more typical of elliptical galaxies. Lenticular galaxies consist mainly of old, low-mass stars and have relatively low star formation rates.

Seyfert galaxies are a subclass of active galaxies centered on active galactic nuclei (AGN). An AGN is a very bright region powered by a supermassive black hole that emits light across the electromagnetic spectrum while consuming dust and gas. Seyfert galaxies differ from other AGN-containing galaxies in that the parent galaxy structures remain clearly visible despite the intense emission emitted by AGNs. They make up about 10% of all known galaxies.

The Hubble Space Telescope is a large space observatory launched by NASA in 1990. Located above Earth’s atmosphere, Hubble is free of atmospheric distortions and can produce incredibly detailed and clear images of celestial objects. The telescope has played a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of the universe by contributing to numerous discoveries and discoveries in astrophysics, such as the rate of expansion of the universe, the age of the universe, and the existence of dark energy.