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> Irregular galaxy NGC 6822 in Sagittarius

Irregular galaxy NGC 6822 in Sagittarius

author: Anglo-Australian Observatory/David Malin Images/Novapix

reference: a-gax68-22002

Image Size 300 DPI: 40 * 51 cm

NGC 6822 is one of the nearest galaxies to the milky Way and is thus a member of a small cluster known as the Local Group to which our Galaxy belongs. It is close enough to be resolved into individual stars, though because of its distance (about 1.8 million light years) only the brightest are seen, even with a telescope as powerful as the AAT. The galaxy seems to be without symmetry and is classified as an irregular. At one end of a prominent bar a few clouds of glowing gas can be seen; at the other, bright bluish stars are scattered out into what appears to be the first signs of a straggling spiral arm.  

Keywords for this photo:

1981 - AAO - ASTRONOMY - GALAXY - IBm - IRREGULAR GALAXY - LOCAL GROUP - NGC 6822 - POSTER - SAGITTARIUS - SIDING SPRING - STAR - STAR FORMATION -