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SDSS J1226+2152 (Hubble Compass Image)

Annotated image of galaxy SDSS J1226+2152, which lies toward the center of the image and is enlarged at top right. The galaxy looks like a blue crab. The rest of the field is full of small circular and oval galaxies in various colors, and the background is black.

This image of galaxy SDSS J1226+2152, which lies toward the center of the image and is enlarged at top right, was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope’s Advanced Camera for Surveys and shows compass arrows and labels for reference.

The north and east compass arrows show the orientation of the image on the sky. Note that the relationship between north and east on the sky (as seen from below) is flipped relative to direction arrows on a map of the ground (as seen from above).

This image shows visible and near-infrared wavelengths of light that have been translated into visible-light colors. The color key shows which Wide Field Channel filters were used when collecting the light. The color of each filter name is the visible light color used to represent the infrared light that passes through that filter.

Read the full image caption.

  • Release Date
    August 21, 2019
  • Science Release
    Where Are New Stars Born? NASA’s Webb Telescope Will Investigate
    Read the release
  • Credit
    Image: NASA, ESA, STScI, Harald Ebeling (UH Manoa)

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Last Updated
Aug 28, 2025
Contact
Media

Laura Betz
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
laura.e.betz@nasa.gov

Image Credit

NASA, ESA, STScI, Harald Ebeling (UH Manoa)

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