侧向星系NGC 4565

2021年05月17日

NGC 4565: Galaxy on Edge
Image Credit & Copyright: CFHT, Coelum, MegaCam, J.-C. Cuillandre (CFHT) & G. A. Anselmi (Coelum)

Explanation: Is our Milky Way Galaxy this thin? Magnificent spiral galaxy NGC 4565 is viewed edge-on from planet Earth. Also known as the Needle Galaxy for its narrow profile, bright NGC 4565 is a stop on many telescopic tours of the northern sky, in the faint but well-groomed constellation Coma Berenices. This sharp, colorful image reveals the spiral galaxy’s boxy, bulging central core cut by obscuring dust lanes that lace NGC 4565’s thin galactic plane. An assortment of other background galaxies is included in the pretty field of view. Thought similar in shape to our own Milky Way Galaxy, NGC 4565 lies about 40 million light-years distant and spans some 100,000 light-years. Easily spotted with small telescopes, sky enthusiasts consider NGC 4565 to be a prominent celestial masterpiece Messier missed.

Tomorrow’s picture: stellar necklace

侧向星系NGC 4565
影像提供与版权: CFHT, Coelum, MegaCam, J.-C. Cuillandre (CFHT) & G. A. Anselmi (Coelum)

说明: 我们的银河系也纤薄如斯？从地球看出去，壮丽的螺旋星系NGC 4565恰好侧向着我们。因为具有细长外观而有针状星系美名的明亮NGC 4565，经常是用望远镜巡礼北天昏暗北冕座时的目标。在这张清晰的彩色影像里，散布在NGC 4565纤薄盘面上的不透光尘埃带，切过鼓胀的星系核心。此外，在这片美丽的视野里，还可见到有其他各式各样的背景星系，包括左上方离NGC 4565不远的星系NGC 4562。形似银河系的NGC 4565，离我们约有4千万光年远，大小则约有100,000光年。用小型望远镜即可轻易见到NGC 4565，因此许多星空爱好者认为NGC 4565，是著名梅西耶星表的遗珠。

明日的图片: stellar necklace