NGC 3393: A Super Spiral?
Explanation:
A bird? A plane? No, but pictured here is something physically
much larger, flying much higher, and moving much faster than either of these.
It is, in fact, a Seyfert type 2
spiral galaxy. The "S" is actually a lane
of
stars, gas
and dust
circling the core. Designated NGC 3393, the bright core
makes this galaxy a
Seyfert
and the infrared glow of central dust help
distinguish it as "type 2."
Seyfert galaxies have extremely energetic
nuclei similar to more powerful
quasars.
Seyferts are thought to have
black holes
in their centers. Most of the lines and small spots in this
image are due to
cosmic rays striking the imager and are unrelated to
structure in the galaxy.
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.
