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Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня NGC 253: Dusty Island Universe http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1986259 |
Credit & Copyright: Adam Block
Explanation:
Shiny NGC 253
is one of the brightest spiral galaxies visible, and also one of
the dustiest.
Some call it the Silver Coin Galaxy for its appearance in small
telescopes, or just the Sculptor Galaxy for its location within
the boundaries of the southern constellation Sculptor.
Discovered in 1783 by mathematician and astronomer
Caroline Herschel,
the dusty island universe lies a mere 10 million light-years away.
About 70 thousand light-years across, NGC 253 is the largest member of
the Sculptor Group of Galaxies,
the nearest to our own
Local Group of Galaxies.
In addition to its spiral dust lanes, tendrils of dust seem to be
rising from its galactic disk
laced with young star clusters and star forming regions in
this colorful galaxy portrait.
The high dust content accompanies frantic star formation,
earning
NGC 253 the designation of a
starburst galaxy.
NGC 253 is also known to be a strong source of high-energy
x-rays
and
gamma rays,
likely due to black holes near the galaxy's center.
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.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day