NGC 253 big picture of a nearby galaxy

[pokerfan]

2009 November 21
NGC 253: Dusty Island Universe


Credit & Copyright: Star Shadows Remote Observatory and PROMPT/CTIO
(Steve Mazlin, Jack Harvey, Rick Gilbert, and Daniel Verschatse)

Go http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap091121.html">here and click on the pic for the big (five mega pixel) image.

Explanation: Shiny NGC 253 Galaxy, is one of the brightest spiral galaxies visible, and also one of the dustiest. Some call it the Silver Dollar Galaxy for its appearance in small telescopes, or just the Sculptor Galaxy for its location within the boundaries of the southern constellation Sculptor. First swept up 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, striking tendrils of dust seem to be rising from a galactic disk laced with young star clusters and star forming regions in this processed color image. The high dust content accompanies frantic star formation, giving 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 massive black holes near the galaxy's center.

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. And not one, single solitary life form in that magnificent expanse is

as dumb as Glenn Beck nor as slimy as OxyRush Limbaugh.

[BlueJazz]

2. of the 2 bright (nearby) stars, look about 2 inches to the left of the top one.

That's a Galaxy also.

[snagglepuss]

3. Amazing.. Thanks for posting. nt

[AsahinaKimi]

4. Sorry, I just had to do this..

http://userimages-akm.imvu.com/userdata/19/42/41/98/userpics/ThatsNOmoon!_1.JPG

[Bitwit1234]

5. When you look

at that coil and then beyond, it sorta makes you feel as if you are being pulled into it.

[byronius]

6. You're right. That's weird.

[skoalyman]

7. makes you wish you were sitting in a space ship looking out the

front window:toast:

[pokerfan]

8. If only our eyes were better

Andromeda is about six times larger than the Moon. The problem is that it's just faint.

Picture of the Moon with M31 for comparison purposes:

[phasma ex machina]

9. Educational juxtaposition saved. Thanks. nt

[pokerfan]

10. ?

I wager that the Milky Way from the Magellanic Clouds is an impressive sight. Imagine Andromeda only 10X closer and 10X bigger and brighter. It would span thirty degrees of the sky! Maybe not quite as the MW is only half the size, but still... I've always wanted to retire there...