A tiny galaxy with a big heart
Nestled within this field of bright foreground stars lies ESO 495-21, a tiny galaxy with a big heart. ESO 495-21 is just 3000 light-years across, a fraction of the size of the Milky Way, but that is not stopping the galaxy from furiously forming huge numbers of stars.
There are also indicators for a supermassive black hole in its centre - an unusual component for a galaxy of its size.
Credit:ESA/Hubble, NASA
About the Image
| Id: | heic1911a |
|---|---|
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 13 June 2019, 16:00 |
| Related releases: | heic1911 |
| Size: | 3970 x 2194 px |
About the Object
| Name: | ESO 495-21 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Irregular |
| Constellation: | Pyxis |
| Category: | Galaxies |
Wallpapers
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 8 36 15.12 |
|---|---|
| Position (Dec): | -26° 24' 41.08" |
| Field of view: | 3.31 x 1.83 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 21.4° left of vertical |
View in ESASky:
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
|---|---|---|
| Optical V | 606 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
| Optical I | 814 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
| Optical V | 606 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
| Optical SII | 673 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |
| Optical I | 814 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |