The Edwin Hubble Telescope: Unveiling the Hidden Shapes of Galaxies

In the early 20th century, American astronomer Edwin Hubble revolutionized our understanding of the universe by recognizing that galaxies come in a variety of shapes. With the help of his iconic telescope, he sorted these celestial bodies into different categories, including elliptical and spiral galaxies. Now, over a century later, scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based observations to reveal the true shape of one of the largest and closest elliptical galaxies to Earth, M87.

By measuring the motions of stars that swarm around the galaxy's supermassive central black hole, astronomers were able to create a 3D plot of the galaxy's structure. This stereo vision was made possible by combining the power of the Hubble Space Telescope with ground-based observations. The result is a stunning revelation: M87 is not just an elliptical blob, but rather a triaxial shape, resembling a potato.

The discovery of the true shape of this giant galaxy provides valuable insights into how large galaxies and their central black holes form. It also sheds light on the evolution of these massive celestial bodies over billions of years. In most cases, astronomers must rely on intuition to understand the shapes of deep-space objects, as they appear flat due to their vast distances from us.

The Edwin Hubble Telescope's remarkable achievement highlights the importance of continued exploration and innovation in astronomy. By pushing the boundaries of what is possible, scientists can unlock new secrets about our universe and gain a deeper understanding of its mysteries.

Edwin hubble telescope