Barnard's Galaxy

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Astronomers obtained this portrait of Barnard’s Galaxy using the Wide Field Imager attached to the 2.2-metre MPG/ESO telescope at ESO’s La Silla Observatory in northern Chile. Also known as NGC 6822, this dwarf irregular galaxy is one of the Milky Way’s galactic neighbours. The dwarf galaxy has no shortage of stellar splendour and pyrotechnics. Reddish nebulae in this image reveal regions of active star formation, wherein young, hot stars heat up nearby gas clouds. Also prominent in the upper left of this new image is a striking bubble-shaped nebula. At the nebula’s centre, a clutch of massive, scorching stars send waves of matter smashing into surrounding interstellar material, generating a glowing structure that appears ring-like from our perspective. Other similar ripples of heated matter thrown out by feisty young stars are dotted across Barnard’s Galaxy.

The image was made from data obtained through four different filters (B, V, R, and H-alpha). The field of view is 35 x 34 arcmin.

Credit:

ESO

Usage of ESO Images and Videos

About the Image

Id:	eso0938a
Type:	Observation
Release date:	14 October 2009
Related releases:	eso0938
Size:	6480 x 5868 px

About the Object

Name:	NGC 6822
Type:	• Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Irregular • Local Universe : Galaxy : Size : Dwarf • Nebulae • Galaxies
Distance:	2 million light years

Coordinates

Position (RA):	19h 44m 57.77s
Position (Dec):	-14° 48' 11.52"
Field of view:	25.70 x 23.27 arcminutes
Orientation:	North is 90.0° left of vertical

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Colours & filters

Band	Telescope
Optical B	MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope WFI
Optical V	MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope WFI
Optical R	MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope WFI
Optical H-alpha	MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope WFI