Spiral Galaxy NGC 253
Explanation:
A camera with over
67 million pixels
(digital picture elements) was used to
record
this stunning image of spiral galaxy
NGC 253.
Known as the Wide Field Imager (WFI), the camera is the latest instrument
to be installed at the European Southern Observatory's
2.2 meter telescope in
La Silla, Chile.
Constructed from exposures made by the WFI in December 1998,
this picture has been cropped from the full field to emphasize
the galaxy and contrast adjusted to follow the graceful,
winding arms and
dramatic dust lanes of this photogenic
island universe.
Relatively bright foreground stars
produce the sharp vertical streaks seen here while higher resolution
versions of the image show intriguing, faint, background galaxies
and likely
globular star clusters associated
with NGC 253.
Two faint satellite trails are also visible.
NGC 253,
an Sc type spiral,
is about 8 million light-years away in the
southern constellation Sculptor.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
