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Credit & Copyright: Dietmar Hager,
Eric Benson
Explanation:
Large spiral galaxy NGC 4945 is seen nearly
edge-on
in this cosmic galaxy close-up.
It's almost the size of our
Milky Way Galaxy.
NGC 4945's own dusty disk, young blue star clusters, and pink star
forming regions stand out in the colorful telescopic frame.
About 13 million light-years distant toward the
expansive
southern constellation
Centaurus,
NGC 4945 is only about six times farther away than Andromeda,
the nearest large spiral galaxy to the Milky Way.
Though this galaxy's central region is largely hidden from
view for optical telescopes, X-ray and infrared observations indicate
significant
high energy emission and star formation in the core
of NGC 4945.
Its obscured but active nucleus qualifies the gorgeous island
universe as a Seyfert galaxy
and home to a central supermassive black hole.
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A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: spiral galaxy - active galaxy
Publications with words: spiral galaxy - active galaxy
See also: