Suggested Searches

 

1 min read

Hubble Views Bright Outburst Far from Galaxies (Compass Image)

Image titled “AT2023fhn HST WFC3/UVIS” with color key, scale bar and compass arrows shows three galaxies against the velvet-black backdrop of space. The largest is the white and blue spiral-shaped galaxy at image center. Two smaller galaxies are whitish patches toward the left. A curious white spot near the top of the image is the brilliant glow from some unknown object that exploded, but is not associated with any of the galaxies. A color key showing the Hubble instrument filter used to create the image is provided at top left below, the image title. The assigned filter color is blue: F555W V. At bottom right is a white scale bar labeled “5 arcseconds.” At lower right are white compass arrows indicating the orientation of the image on the sky. The east arrow points in the 9 o’clock direction. The north arrow points towards 12 o’clock.

Image titled "AT2023fhn HST WFC3/UVIS" with color key, scale bar and compass arrows shows three galaxies against the velvet-black backdrop of space.  The largest is the white and blue spiral-shaped galaxy at image center. Two smaller galaxies are whitish patches toward the left. A curious white spot with red pointers near the top of the image is the brilliant glow from some unknown object that exploded, but is not associated with any of the galaxies.

About the Object

  • R.A. Position
    R.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.
    10:08:03.82
  • Dec. Position
    Dec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.
    +21:04:26.95
  • Constellation
    ConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.
    Leo
  • Dimensions
    DimensionsThe physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky.
    Image is about 26 arcseconds across

About the Data

  • Data Description
    Data DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
    Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.

    This image was created with Hubble data from proposal: 17238 (A. Chrimes)

  • Instrument
    InstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.
    WFC3/UVIS
  • Exposure Dates
    Exposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.
    17 May 2023
  • Filters
    FiltersThe camera filters that were used in the science observations.
    F555W V
  • Object Name
    Object NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.
    AT2023fhn
  • Object Description
    Object DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.
    Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transient (LFBOT)
  • Release Date
    October 5, 2023
  • Science Release
    NASA’s Hubble Finds Bizarre Explosion in Unexpected Place
    Read the release
  • Credit
    NASA, ESA, STScI, Ashley Chrimes (ESA-ESTEC/Radboud University)

Downloads

  • Full Res, 648 × 518
    tif (2.18 MB)
  • Full Res, 648 × 518
    png (1.71 MB)
Image titled “AT2023fhn HST WFC3/UVIS” with color key, scale bar and compass arrows shows three galaxies against the velvet-black backdrop of space. The largest is the white and blue spiral-shaped galaxy at image center. Two smaller galaxies are whitish patches toward the left. A curious white spot near the top of the image is the brilliant glow from some unknown object that exploded, but is not associated with any of the galaxies. A color key showing the Hubble instrument filter used to create the image is provided at top left below, the image title. The assigned filter color is blue: F555W V. At bottom right is a white scale bar labeled “5 arcseconds.” At lower right are white compass arrows indicating the orientation of the image on the sky. The east arrow points in the 9 o’clock direction. The north arrow points towards 12 o’clock.
Color Info
Color InfoA brief description of the methods used to convert telescope data into the color image being presented.

This image was acquired by the WFC3 instrument on the Hubble Space Telescope. The color results from assigning a blue hue to a monochromatic (grayscale) image.

Compass and Scale
Compass and ScaleAn astronomical image with a scale that shows how large an object is on the sky, a compass that shows how the object is oriented on the sky, and the filters with which the image was made.

Related Images & Videos

Illustration of one of brightest explosions ever seen in space. Called a Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transient (LFBOT), it shines intensely in blue light. It appears as a bright white blob left of center where blue-white and red rays sprout out from it. Toward the right of the image there is a spiral galaxy. To the upper left is another whitish galaxy shaped like a cigar. The LFBOT doesn’t seem to be associated with either galaxy.

Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transient (Artist's Concept)

This is an artist's concept of one of brightest explosions ever seen in space. Called a Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transient (LFBOT), it shines intensely in blue light and evolves rapidly, reaching peak brightness and fading again in a matter of days, unlike supernovae which...

This Hubble photograph shows three galaxies against the velvet-black backdrop of space. The largest is the white and blue spiral-shaped galaxy at image center. Two smaller galaxies are whitish patches toward the left. A curious white spot near the top of the image is the brilliant glow from some unknown object that exploded, but is not associated with any of the galaxies.

Hubble Views Bright Outburst Far from Galaxies

A Hubble Space Telescope image of a Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transient (LFBOT) designated AT2023fhn, indicated by pointers. It shines intensely in blue light and evolves rapidly, reaching peak brightness and fading again in a matter of days, unlike supernovae which take weeks...

Share

Details

Last Updated
Mar 28, 2025
Contact
Media

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov

Related Terms

Keep Exploring

Discover More Topics From NASA

Hubble Space Telescope

Since its 1990 launch, the Hubble Space Telescope has changed our fundamental understanding of the universe.

Hubble Science Highlights

Hubble Images

Hubble News Old