The Crown of Thorns Galaxy

It is Holy Week. Gaze upon the Crown of Thorns galaxy, courtesy of the Hubble telescope.

NGC 7049 sits in the southern constellation Indus, and is the brightest of a cluster of galaxies, a so-called Brightest Cluster Galaxy (BCG). Typical BCGs are some of the oldest and most massive galaxies, which provide excellent opportunities for astronomers to study the elusive globular clusters lurking within.

The halo, a ghostly region of diffuse light surrounding the galaxy, is composed of myriads of individual stars and provides a luminous background to the swirling ring of dust lanes surrounding NGC 7049's core.

Rejoice, Heavenly powers! Sing choirs of angels! Exult all creation around God's throne!