images

Barred spiral galaxy NGC 4945 in Centaurus

by

ESO/Novapix

Reference

a-gax49-45001

Date

2006-09-11

NGC 4945 is a barred spiral galaxy in the Centaurus Group of galaxies, located only six times farther away than the prominent Andromeda Galaxy. The thin disk galaxy is oriented nearly edge-on, and shrouded in dark dust. NGC 4945 is thought to be quite similar to our own Milky Way Galaxy. X-ray observations reveal, however, that NGC 4945 has an unusual, energetic, Seyfert 2 nucleus that might house a large black hole. Image obtained by the 2.2m MPG telescope at La Silla observatory.