An infrared/visible comparison view of Messier 83

This image is a comparison of the view of the galaxy Messier 83 in visible and infrared light. The visible light image (right) was taken with the Wide Field Imager on the 2.2-metre MPG/ESO telescope at La Silla in Chile. The new infrared image (left) was taken with the HAWK-I instrument on the VLT at ESO’s Paranal Observatory. In the infrared, the dust that obscures many stars becomes nearly transparent, making the spiral arms less dramatic, but revealing a whole host of new stars that are otherwise invisible.

Credit:

ESO/M. Gieles.
Acknowledgement: Mischa Schirmer

About the Image

Id:eso1020c
Type:Observation
Release date:19 May 2010, 12:00
Related releases:eso1020
Size:6886 x 3479 px

About the Object

Name:Messier 83
Type:Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral
Distance:15 million light years
Category:Galaxies

Image Formats

Large JPEG
7.2 MB
Screensize JPEG
151.0 KB

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Colours & filters

BandTelescope
Optical
B
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Infrared
J
Very Large Telescope
HAWK-I
Optical
V
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Infrared
H
Very Large Telescope
HAWK-I
Optical
R
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Infrared
K
Very Large Telescope
HAWK-I

Notes: WFI optical data refers to the right image, Hawk-I data refers to the left image.