Centaurus A halo annotated
This image shows the stunning elliptical galaxy Centaurus A. Recently, astronomers have used the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to probe the outskirts of this galaxy to learn more about its dim halo of stars.
Two of the areas probed with Hubble are shown here in the red squares, and in more detail in the insets. Other areas were probed even further away, beyond the field of view of this image.
Hubble’s unique capabilities allowed astronomers to analyse the faint stars in the halo.
The galaxy’s halo of stars has been found to reach much further than expected, extending across 4 degrees in the sky — equivalent to eight times the apparent width of the Moon, or almost twice the width of this image.
This image is a composite of images from Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS2), the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope and the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope’s Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS).
Credit:Image credit: ESA/Hubble, NASA, Digitized Sky Survey, MPG/ESO
Acknowledgement: Davide de Martin
About the Image
Id: | heic1415b |
Type: | Collage |
Release date: | 22 July 2014, 16:00 |
Related releases: | heic1415 |
Size: | 7678 x 3982 px |
About the Object
Name: | Centaurus A |
Type: | Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Elliptical |
Category: | Galaxies |
Image Formats
Colours & filters
Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
---|---|---|
Optical B | DSS | |
Optical OIII | 502 nm |
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI |
Optical B | 456 nm |
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI |
Optical V | 606 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
Optical R | DSS | |
Optical V | 540 nm |
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI |
Optical R | 652 nm |
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI |
Infrared I | 814 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
Optical H-alpha | 659 nm |
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI |
Infrared I | DSS |