NASA Hubble Images: Galaxy NGC 4452

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has imaged a striking galaxy called NGC 4452, which appears to lie exactly edge-on as seen from Earth.

The result is an extraordinary picture of billions of stars observed from an unusual angle.

The bright nucleus can be seen at the centre, along with the very thin disc that looks like a straight line from our unusual viewing position. NGC 4452 was first seen by William Herschel in 1784 with his 47 cm telescope in England.

He described the object as a bright nebula, small and very much elongated. The new Hubble image shows just how elongated this unusual object really is.

Picture: ESA/Hubble & NASA / Rex Features