NICMOS finds a golden ring at the heart of a galaxy (WFPC2 image)
In this visible-light view of the galaxy NGC 4013, the star-forming ring (which is visible in a NICMOS image of the same region) cannot be seen because it is embedded in dust. The most prominent feature in this visible-light image - taken by the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2(WFPC2) - is the thin, dark band of gas and dust, which is about 500 light-years thick.
NGC 4013, which looks similar to our Milky Way Galaxy, resides in the constellation Ursa Major, 55 million light-years from Earth.
Credit:
About the Image
| Id: | heic0207e |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 5 June 2002, 15:00 |
| Related releases: | heic0207 |
| Size: | 1008 x 1008 px |
About the Object
| Name: | IRAS 11559+4413, NGC 4013 |
| Type: | • Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral • Galaxies Images/Videos |
| Distance: | 60 million light years |
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
| Optical B |
450 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Optical V |
555 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Infrared I |
814 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
