Full WFPC2 Field NGC 4603

The spiral galaxy NGC 4603 observed by Hubble.

NGC 4603 is a spiral galaxy which can be found in the constellation Centaurus, more than 100 million light years away. In 1999 the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope was studying this galaxy in search for Cepheid variable stars to measure their periodicity. Using the periodicity of the identified 40 Cepheids an accurate distance of the galaxy could be calculated.

In 2008 the galaxy became again in the focus of the astronomical society as a high luminosity supernova exploded in it.