Face-on view of galaxy NGC 4303 reveals its arms are filled with active star formation - Phys.org

The resulting image shows a golden glow of molecular clouds of gas threading through the spiral arms and the existence of already-formed stars.

Astronomers used the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) instrument at the Very Large Telescope to study existing stars in the galaxy.

MUSE is an extremely powerful and innovative 3D spectrograph with a wide field of view, providing simultaneous spectra of numerous adjacent regions in the sky.

This study of NGC 4303 is part of a larger effort called the Physics at High Angular Resolution in Nearby GalaxieS (PHANGS) project.

These include MUSTANG—the Multi-scale Star Formation across Nascent Galaxies project, which looks at the lifecycle of clouds and starforming regions.

The almost uniform distribution of neutral gas clouds across its spiral arms and core predicts a very bright future for this galaxy.