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> Galaxy ESO 269-57 in Centaurus

Galaxy ESO 269-57 in Centaurus

author: ESO/Novapix

reference: a-gax95-00010

Image Size 300 DPI: 17 * 17 cm

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.

Keywords for this photo:

1999 - ANTU - ASTRONOMY - CENTAURUS - ESO 269-57 - GALAXY - Sa - SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE - SPIRAL GALAXY - STAR - STAR FORMATION - VERY LARGE TELESCOPE - VLT -