Centaurus A Nucleus
A close-up high resolution Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 image of the dramatic dust disk which is thought to be the remnant of a smaller spiral galaxy that merged with the large elliptical galaxy. The shock of the collision compressed interstellar gas, precipitating a flurry of star formation and giving the material a fleecy pattern. Dark filaments of dust mixed with cold hydrogen gas are silhouetted against the incandescent yellow-orange glow from stars behind it.
Credit:About the Image
About the Object
Name: | Centaurus A, NGC 5128 |
Type: | Local Universe : Galaxy Local Universe : Galaxy : Component : Central Black Hole |
Distance: | 11 million light years |
Constellation: | Centaurus |
Category: | Galaxies |
Coordinates
Position (RA): | 13 25 26.95 |
Position (Dec): | -43° 1' 18.35" |
Field of view: | 1.28 x 1.33 arcminutes |
Orientation: | North is 20.7° left of vertical |
Colours & filters
Band | Telescope |
---|---|
Optical B |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |
Optical V |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |
Optical R |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |