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Credit: Gemini Observatory,
GMOS Team
Explanation:
If not perfect, then this
spiral
galaxy is at least one of the most photogenic.
An island universe
of about 100 billion stars,
30 million light-years away toward the
constellation Pisces,
NGC 628 or M74 presents a gorgeous
face-on view
to earthbound astronomers.
Classified
as an Sc galaxy, the grand design
of M74's graceful spiral
arms traced by bright blue
star clusters and dark
cosmic dust lanes,
is similar in many respects to our own home galaxy, the
Milky Way.
Recorded with a 28 million
pixel
detector array, this impressive
image celebrates first light for
the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph
(GMOS), a state-of-the-art instrument
now operational at the 8-meter
Gemini North telescope.
The Gemini North Observatory gazes into the skies above
Mauna Kea,
Hawaii, USA, while its twin observatory,
Gemini South,
is scheduled to begin operations later this year from
Cerro Pachяn in central Chile.
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NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: M74 - spiral galaxy - Gemini telescope
Publications with words: M74 - spiral galaxy - Gemini telescope
See also: