Centaurus A Nucleus
A close-up high resolution Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 image of the dramatic dust disk which is thought to be the remnant of a smaller spiral galaxy that merged with the large elliptical galaxy. The shock of the collision compressed interstellar gas, precipitating a flurry of star formation and giving the material a fleecy pattern. Dark filaments of dust mixed with cold hydrogen gas are silhouetted against the incandescent yellow-orange glow from stars behind it.
Credit:About the Image
About the Object
| Name: | Centaurus A, NGC 5128 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Local Universe : Galaxy Local Universe : Galaxy : Component : Central Black Hole |
| Distance: | 11 million light years |
| Constellation: | Centaurus |
| Category: | Galaxies |
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 13 25 26.95 |
|---|---|
| Position (Dec): | -43° 1' 18.35" |
| Field of view: | 1.28 x 1.33 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 20.7° left of vertical |
View in ESASky:
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Telescope |
|---|---|
| Optical B |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |
| Optical V |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |
| Optical R |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |