Messier 94: a cosmic crossover that goes beyond the ice rink

Messier 94: a cosmic crossover that goes beyond the ice rink - and into space! Captured here by @NASAHubble, the spiral galaxy M94 is located about 16 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici. It belongs to the Messier catalog, a stargazing resource first compiled by the French astronomer Charles Messier in the 1700s.⁣

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Hockey fans may remember another Messier 94 on this day. Thirty years ago, on June 14, 1994, legendary captain Mark Messier and the New York Rangers lifted the Stanley Cup. The trophy is primarily made of silver and nickel, both elements forged from stellar explosions and merging neutron stars. Like everything else in the @NASAUniverse, the Stanley Cup is indeed made of star stuff!⁣
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Astronomers suggest that the starburst ring in M94 was formed by a pressure wave moving outward from the galaxy’s center—reminiscent of the electrifying energy of fans in a packed arena.⁣
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While this year’s Stanley Cup champions have yet to be crowned, the universe may hold some clues.⁣
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Image description: A massive spiral galaxy fills the image. Its central, glowing core shines in pale yellow and is surrounded with spiral arms laced with dark brown dust. A ring of bright bluish-white stars surrounds the galaxy.⁣
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Credit: NASA