A Galactic Gem
A spellbinding image of the spiral galaxy NGC 3981 has been captured by ESO’s Very Large Telescope.
It is part of the same group of galaxies as the Antennae galaxies, and is approximately 65 million light-years away.
NGC 3981’s resplendent spiral arms were seen in amazing detail...
...as well as the galaxy’s energetic centre, which contains a supermassive black hole.
The image also shows several foreground stars from the Milky Way...
...and a rogue asteroid streaking across the night sky.
Transcribed by ESO; Translated by —