Spiral Galaxy NGC 4945
Seen edge-on, observations of NGC 4945 suggest that this hive of stars is a spiral galaxy much like our own Milky Way, with swirling, luminous arms and a bar-shaped centre. Sites of active star formation, known as HII regions, are seen prominently in the image, appearing bright pink. These resemblances aside, NGC 4945 has a brighter centre that likely harbours a supermassive black hole, which is devouring reams of matter and blasting energy out into space. NGC 4945 is about 13 million light-years away in the constellation of Centaurus (the Centaur) and is beautifully revealed in this image taken with data in five bands (B, V, R, H-alpha and S II) with the 2.2-metre MPG/ESO telescope at La Silla. The field of view is 30 x 30 arcminutes. North is up, East is to the left.
Credit:
ESO
About the Image
| Id: | eso0931a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 2 September 2009 |
| Related releases: | eso0931 |
| Size: | 5538 x 5538 px |
About the Object
| Name: | NGC 4945 |
| Type: | • Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral • Galaxies |
| Distance: | 13 million light years |
Colours & filters
| Band | Telescope |
| Optical B |
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope 2.2 m WFI |
| Optical Sii |
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope 2.2 m WFI |
| Optical V |
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope 2.2 m WFI |
| Optical R |
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope 2.2 m WFI |
| Optical H-alpha |
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope 2.2 m WFI |
Images
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