images

Spiral galaxy NGC 6118 and supernova 2004dk

by

ESO/Novapix

Reference

a-gax61-18001

Date

2006-09-12

Composite colour-coded image of the "grand design" spiral galaxy NGC 6118, located near the celestial equator, in the constellation Serpens (The Snake) at a distance of 80 million light-years. A bright star is visible in the middle of the image, just above the galaxy core, it is the supernova 2004dk, a supernova of Type Ib or Ic. Images obtained with the multi-mode VIMOS instrument on the ESO Very Large Telescope Melipal telescope during several nights around August 21, 2004.