NGC 1566: The Spanish Dancer Spiral Galaxy
Explanation:
If not perfect, then this
spiral galaxy
is at least one of the most photogenic.
An
island universe containing billions of stars and
situated about 40 million light-years away toward the
constellation of the Dolphinfish
(Dorado),
NGC 1566 presents
a gorgeous
face-on view.
Classified as a
grand design spiral,
NGC 1566's shows two prominent and graceful spiral
arms that are traced by bright
blue
star clusters and dark
cosmic dust lanes.
Numerous Hubble Space Telescope images of
NGC 1566 have been taken to study star formation,
supernovas,
and the spiral's unusually active center.
Some of these images, stored online in the
Hubble Legacy Archive,
were freely downloaded, combined, and digitally processed
by an industrious amateur to create the featured image.
NGC 1566's flaring center makes the spiral one of the closest and brightest
Seyfert galaxies, likely housing a central
supermassive black hole wreaking havoc on
surrounding stars and gas.
Today:
Total solar eclipse visible in parts of South America
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.
