螺旋星系NGC 1350

2021年02月12日

Spiral Galaxy NGC 1350
Image Credit & Copyright: Mike Selby, Warren Keller

Explanation: This gorgeous island universe lies about 85 million light-years distant in the southern constellation Fornax. Inhabited by young blue star clusters, the tightly wound spiral arms of NGC 1350 seem to join in a circle around the galaxy’s large, bright nucleus, giving it the appearance of a cosmic eye. In fact, NGC 1350 is about 130,000 light-years across. That makes it as large or slightly larger than the Milky Way. For earth-based astronomers, NGC 1350 is seen on the outskirts of the Fornax cluster of galaxies, but its estimated distance suggests that it is not itself a cluster member. Of course, the bright spiky stars in the foreground of this telescopic field of view are members of our own spiral Milky Way galaxy.

Tomorrow’s picture: light-weekend

螺旋星系NGC 1350
影像提供与版权: Mike Selby, Warren Keller

说明: 这个壮丽的宇宙岛，位在天炉座方向约8千5百万光年远之处。NGC 1350紧密缠绕的螺旋臂上之年轻泛蓝星团，看似在星系庞大明亮核心的周围聚集成环，形成一只宇宙级的巨眼。 NGC 1350的跨幅约为130,000光年，大小约莫和银河系相当或稍大。对地球上的天文学家来说，NGC 1350虽然位在天炉座星系团的边缘，但其距离暗示它并非此星系团的成员。想当然耳，这幅望远镜影像前景带着星芒的恒星，是我们螺旋状银河系的成员星。

明日的图片: light-weekend