Hubble Images Majestic Cousin of the Milky Way
Our Sun and solar system are embedded in a broad pancake of stars deep within the disk of the Milky Way galaxy. Even from a distance, it is impossible to see our galaxy's large-scale features other than the disk. The next best thing is to look farther out into the universe at galaxies that are similar in shape and structure to our home galaxy. Other spiral galaxies like NGC 3949, pictured in the Hubble image, fit the bill.
Credit:
About the Image
NASA press release
NASA caption
NASA caption
| Id: | opo0425a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 5 August 2004, 15:00 |
| Size: | 1183 x 834 px |
About the Object
| Name: | IRAS F11510+4808, NGC 3949 |
| Type: | • Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral |
| Distance: | 50 million light years |
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
| Optical B |
450 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Optical V |
606 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Infrared I |
814 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
