NGC 4605

With so many galaxies swarming around, NGC 4605--part of the M81 group--may seem unremarkable. However, astronomers are using this galaxy to test our knowledge of stellar evolution. The newly-formed stars in NGC 4605 are being used to investigate how interactions between galaxies affect the formation, evolution, and behavior of the stars within, how bright stellar nurseries come together to form stellar clusters and stellar associations, and how these stars evolve over time.