Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня M74: совершенная спираль http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1251009/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Descubre Foundation, Calar
Alto Observatory, OAUV, DSA,
V. Peris (OAUV), J. L. Lamadrid (CEFCA), J.
Harvey (SSRO), S. Mazlin (SSRO), I.
Rodriguez (PTeam), O. L. (PTeam), J. Conejero
(PixInsight).
Explanation:
If not perfect, then this
spiral
galaxy is at least one of the most photogenic.
An island universe of about 100 billion stars,
32 million light-years away toward the
constellation Pisces,
M74 presents
a gorgeous face-on view.
Classified as
an Sc galaxy,
the grand design of M74's graceful
spiral
arms are traced by bright blue
star clusters and dark cosmic dust lanes.
The above image covers half the width of the full Moon and was obtained using 19
hours of exposure on the 1.23-meter telescope at
Calar Alto Observatory in the
Sierra de Los Filabres mountain range in Spain.
Spanning about 30,000 light-years across the face of
M74, it includes exposures recording emission from
hydrogen atoms,
highlighting
the reddish glow of the galaxy's large star-forming regions.
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.