Seeing things sideways
This image from Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) shows NGC 1448, a spiral galaxy located about 50 million light-years from Earth in the little-known constellation of Horologium (The Pendulum Clock). We tend to think of spiral galaxies as massive and roughly circular celestial bodies, so this glittering oval does not immediately appear to fit the visual bill. What’s going on? Imagine a spiral galaxy as a circular frisbee spinning gently in space. When we see it face on, our observations reveal a spectacular amount of detail and structure — a great example from Hubble is the telescope’s view of Messier 51, otherwise known as the Whirlpool Galaxy. However, the NGC 1448 frisbee is very nearly edge-on with respect to Earth, giving it an appearance that is more oval than circular. The spiral arms, which curve out from NGC 1448’s dense core, can just about be seen.
ESA/Hubble & NASA
About the Image
Id: | potw1711a |
Type: | Observation |
Release date: | 13 March 2017, 06:00 |
Size: | 4064 x 3598 px |
About the Object
Name: | NGC 1448 |
Type: | Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral |
Distance: | 50 million light years |
Constellation: | Horologium |
Category: | Galaxies |
Image Formats
Coordinates
Position (RA): | 3 44 39.66 |
Position (Dec): | -44° 37' 0.34" |
Field of view: | 2.68 x 2.38 arcminutes |
Orientation: | North is 25.6° left of vertical |
Colours & filters
Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
---|---|---|
Optical V | 555 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFC3 |
Optical I | 814 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFC3 |
Optical Very Broad | 350 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFC3 |