# @europeanspaceagency on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DFNzW9hMyrS
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/35582252-europeanspaceagency-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/78868e4874.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-01-24T16:50:00.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** J.L.Lopez (@xandler80) — https://gondola.cc/xandler80

## Caption

Jetting through the cosmos: Quasar J0742+2704 💫

At first glance, this stunning infrared-light image from @hubbleesa reveals a serene spiral galaxy. But looks can be deceiving! Meet Quasar J0742+2704, a galaxy with a newborn jet blasting from the supermassive black hole at its centre—a discovery first made in 2020 with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array. While the jet itself isn’t visible here, the galaxy’s story is one for the books.

What makes J0742+2704 so fascinating?
- Its spiral shape is intact—a rare find for galaxies hosting jets, which are usually elliptical. Why? Jets are often triggered by chaotic mergers between galaxies that disrupt spiral formations.
- Hubble reveals subtle disruptions in its lower arm, hinting at a less dramatic interaction with another galaxy. Could this mean jets can form without a major galactic collision? Astronomers are on the case!
- Look closely to the lower right, and you’ll see a ring galaxy, likely formed when a smaller galaxy plunged through the centre of a larger one. This is more evidence of past interactions shaping this intriguing region of space.

And those bright, spiky details in the image? They’re not cosmic fireworks but the signature diffraction spikes caused by Hubble’s internal structure.

Quasar J0742+2704 reminds us that the Universe is full of surprises.

📸 @NASA, @europeanspaceagency  K. Nyland (@usnrl), J. DePasquale (@space_telescopes); @creativecommons BY 4.0

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 12,046
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 30

## Credits

These are the roles credited on Gondola. Credits may be incomplete.
A brand, account owner, or featured person is not necessarily the creator.

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ESA - European Space Agency | @europeanspaceagency | https://gondola.cc/europeanspaceagency | Government Organization |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Producer |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Editor |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Social Media Manager |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Publisher |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Copywriter |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Community Manager |

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