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Credit & Copyright: LÑrÀnd FÈnyes
Explanation:
Is our Galaxy this thin?
We believe so.
Magnificent spiral galaxy
NGC 4565
is viewed edge-on from planet Earth.
Also known as the Needle Galaxy
for its narrow profile, bright NGC 4565 is a stop
on many telescopic tours of the northern sky,
in the faint but well-groomed
constellation Coma
Berenices.
This sharp, colorful image reveals the galaxy's bulging central core
cut by obscuring dust lanes that lace
NGC 4565's thin
galactic plane.
An assortment of other background galaxies is
included
in the pretty field of view, with
neighboring galaxy NGC 4562 at the upper left.
NGC 4565 itself lies about 40 million
light-years distant and spans
some 100,000 light-years.
Easily spotted with small telescopes,
sky
enthusiasts consider NGC 4565 to be a prominent celestial masterpiece
Messier missed.
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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: NGC 4565 - spiral galaxy - edge-on galaxy
Publications with words: NGC 4565 - spiral galaxy - edge-on galaxy
See also: