Hubble Space Telescope Captures New Trifid Nebula Image for 36th Anniversary
On April 24, 2026, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope marked its 36th anniversary by unveiling a fresh image of the Trifid Nebula, located 5,000 light-years away in Sagittarius. Originally captured in 1997, this nebula now showcases nearly thirty years of evolution. The new image depicts a cloud that resembles a sea slug with two protrusions: the left one is a plasma jet (Herbig-Haro 399) emitted by a young protostar, while the right features another young star surrounded by a circumstellar disk. The image's top-left displays a deep blue area of ionized gas, contrasting with the dense black dust in the bottom-right. Hubble has completed over 1.7 million observations, aiding nearly 29,000 astronomers in publishing peer-reviewed research.
Key facts
- Hubble Space Telescope marked its 36th anniversary on April 24, 2026.
- New image of Trifid Nebula, 5,000 light-years away in Sagittarius.
- First captured in 1997; comparison shows changes over 29 years.
- Image features a cloud with two horns: left is Herbig-Haro 399 plasma jet.
- Right horn contains a young star with a circumstellar disk.
- Color palette divides into blue ionized gas (top-left) and dark dust (bottom-right).
- Ultraviolet light from massive stars erodes gas and dust.
- Hubble has over 1.7 million observations and nearly 29,000 astronomers using its data.
Entities
Artists
- Joseph DePasquale
Institutions
- NASA
- ESA
- STScI
- My Modern Met
Locations
- Trifid Nebula
- Sagittarius