Photo Agency - Astronomy - Space - Nature

> Irregular galaxy NGC 3239 in Leo

Irregular galaxy NGC 3239 in Leo

author: A.Block/MLSC/Univ.of Az/Novapix

reference: a-gax32-39001

Image Size 300 DPI: 24 * 23 cm

About 40,000 light-years across, irregular galaxy NGC 3239 lies near the center of this field of galaxies in the galaxy rich constellation Leo. At a distance of only 25 million light-years it dominates the frame, sporting a peculiar arrangement of structures, young blue star clusters and star forming regions, suggesting that NGC 3239 (aka Arp 263) is the result of a galaxy merger. Appearing nearly on top of the pretty galaxy is a bright, spiky, foreground star, a nearby member of our own Milky Way galaxy almost directly along our line-of-sight to NGC 3239. Still, NGC 3239 is notable for hosting this year's first confirmed supernova, designated SN 2012A. SN 2012A is just below and right of the bright foreground star. Of course, based on the light-travel time to NGC 3239, the supernova explosion itself occurred 25 million years ago, triggered by the core collapse of a massive star.

Keywords for this photo:

2012 - ARP 263 - ASTRONOMY - GALAXY - IRREGULAR GALAXY - LEO - NGC 3239 - SN 2012a - STAR - SUPERNOVA -