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Credit & Copyright: Petri Kehusmaa,
Harlingten Atacama Observatory
Explanation:
Large spiral galaxy NGC 4945 is seen
edge-on
near the center of this
cosmic
galaxy portrait.
In fact, NGC 4945 is almost the size of our own
Milky Way Galaxy.
Its own dusty disk, young blue star clusters, and pink star forming
regions standout in the sharp, colorful telescopic image.
About 13 million light-years distant toward the
expansive southern
constellation Centaurus,
NGC 4945 is only about six times farther away than Andromeda,
the nearest large spiral galaxy to the Milky Way.
Though the galaxy's central region is largely hidden from
view for optical telescopes, X-ray and infrared observations indicate
significant
high energy emission and star formation in the core
of NGC 4945.
Its obscured but active nucleus qualifies the gorgeous island
universe as a Seyfert galaxy
and home to a central supermassive black hole.
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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: edge-on - spiral galaxy - active galaxy
Publications with words: edge-on - spiral galaxy - active galaxy
See also: