|
Credit & Copyright: SSRO-South
(S. Mazlin, J. Harvey, D. Verschatse, R. Gilbert) &
Kevin Ivarsen
(UNC/CTIO/PROMPT)
Explanation:
The grand, winding arms are almost mesmerizing in
this face-on view
of NGC 7424, a spiral galaxy with a prominent
central bar.
About 40 million light-years distant in the
headlong constellation
Grus, this island universe
is also about 100,000 light-years across making it remarkably
similar to our own
Milky Way.
Following along the winding arms, many bright
clusters
of massive young stars can be found.
The star clusters themselves are several hundred light-years
in diameter.
And while massive stars are born in the arms of NGC 7424,
they also die there.
Notably, this galaxy was home to a
powerful stellar explosion,
supernova
SN 2001ig, which faded well before the above image
was recorded.
Follow APOD on:
Facebook
(Daily)
(Sky)
(Spanish)
or Google Plus
(Daily)
(River)
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
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: barred spiral galaxy
Publications with words: barred spiral galaxy
See also: