images

Galaxy ESO 269-57 in Centaurus

by

ESO/Novapix

Reference

a-gax95-00010

Date

2006-09-13

The picture shows the complex structure of ESO 269-57, with an inner "ring", of several tightly wound spiral arms, surrounded by two outer ones that appear to split into several branches. Many blue and diffuse objects are visible - most are star-forming regions. The galaxy type is Sa(r) and its distance is about 155 million light-years. It extends over about 4 arcmin in the sky, corresponding to nearly 200,000 light-years across.  Many other galaxies are visible in the background. This three-colour composite was obtained with VLT ANTU and FORS1 in the morning of March 27, 1999.