This image features the spiral galaxy NGC 691, imaged in fantastic detail by Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). This galaxy is the eponymous member of the NGC 691 galaxy group, a group of gravitationally bound galaxies that lie about 120 million light-years from Earth.

Objects such as NGC 691 are observed by Hubble using a range of filters. Each filter only allows certain wavelengths of light to reach Hubble’s WFC3. The images collected using different filters are then coloured by specialised visual artists who can make informed choices about which colour best corresponds to which filter. By combining the coloured images from individual filters, a full-colour image of the astronomical object can be recreated. In this way, we can get remarkably good insight into the nature and appearance of these objects.

Credit:

ESA/Hubble & NASA, A. Riess et al. Acknowledgement: M. Zamani

Coordinates Position (RA):  	1 50 41.34 Position (Dec): 	21° 45' 32.77" Field of view:  	2.04 x 2.15 arcminutes Orientation:    	North is 23.4° right of vertical  Colours & filters Band	Wavelength	Telescope Optical Long pass   	350 nm   	Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 Optical V           	555 nm   	Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 Optical I           	814 nm   	Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 Infrared H          	1.6 μm   	Hubble Space Telescope WFC3