邻近的螺旋星系NGC 4945
2022年2月26日
Nearby Spiral Galaxy NGC 4945
Image Credit & Copyright: Dietmar Hager, Eric Benson
Explanation: Large spiral galaxy NGC 4945 is seen nearly edge-on in this cosmic galaxy close-up. It’s almost the size of our Milky Way Galaxy. NGC 4945’s own dusty disk, young blue star clusters, and pink star forming regions stand out in the colorful telescopic frame. About 13 million light-years distant toward the expansive southern constellation Centaurus, NGC 4945 is only about six times farther away than Andromeda, the nearest large spiral galaxy to the Milky Way. Though this galaxy’s central region is largely hidden from view for optical telescopes, X-ray and infrared observations indicate significant high energy emission and star formation in the core of NGC 4945. Its obscured but active nucleus qualifies the gorgeous island universe as a Seyfert galaxy and home to a central supermassive black hole.
Tomorrow’s picture: really famous picture — remastered
邻近的螺旋星系NGC 4945
影像提供与版权: Dietmar Hager, Eric Benson
说明: 这张星系特写影像中心附近的天体，是侧向我们，大小和我们银河系相当的大螺旋星系NGC 4945。在这张清晰的望镜镜彩色影像里，NGC 4945满布尘埃的盘面、年轻泛蓝星团和粉红恒星形成区清楚可辨。在南天辽阔 半人马座内的NGC 4945，与离银河系最近的大螺旋星系─仙女座星系比起来，在距离上要远上6倍，约莫是1,300万光年远。虽然这个星系的中心区，透过光学望远镜基本上不可见，但X射线和红外线的观测显示，NGC 4945的星系核有大量的高能幅射和恒星诞生活动。因它的活跃星系核隐不可见，是以这个核心藏有超大质量黑洞的壮丽宇宙岛，其分类为西佛星系。
