Astronomy Picture of the Day -- NGC 253: Close Up

NASA ^ | May 19, 2011 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit: Hubble Legacy Archive, ESA, NASA; Processing and additional imaging - Robert Gendle] Explanation: This dusty island universe is one of the brightest spiral galaxies in planet Earth's sky. Seen nearly edge-on, NGC 253 is only 13 million light-years away, the largest member of the Sculptor Group of galaxies, neighbor to our own local galaxy group. The detailed close-up view is a five frame mosaic based on data assembled from Hubble Legacy Archive data. Beginning on the left near the galaxy's core, the sharp panorama follows dusty filaments, interstellar gas clouds, and even individual stars toward the galaxy's edge at the right. The magnificent vista spans nearly 50,000 light-years. The frame at the far right has been compressed slightly to bring into view an intriguing interacting pair of background galaxies. Designated a starburst galaxy because of its frantic star forming activity, NGC 253 features tendrils of dust rising from a galactic disk laced with young star clusters and star forming regions. NGC 253 is also known to be a strong source of high-energy x-rays and gamma rays, likely due to massive black holes near the galaxy's center.

[SunkenCiv]

Seems like it should be Friday. Dang.

[SunkenCiv]

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[cripplecreek]

Makes it a little hard to believe that there is only one planet with life.

[Larry Lucido]

Nice!

[rightwingextremist1776]

but not hard to believe that Earth is the only one hospitable to life close enough to get to.....

[TheOldLady]

You’re both right.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Wonderful photo. Sort of puts things in perspective.

[left that other site]

Beautiful! Thank you, Sunken Civ!

[Dan Cooper]

Thanks SunkenCiv, that’s awesome.

[Conan the Librarian]

Nice to see an old friend back in focus.

First time I saw this galaxy was back in the late 70s or early 80s.

Thanks for the view!

[redhead]

"Makes it a little hard to believe that there is only one planet with life."

I suspect this is the reason the atheistic scientists are so desperate to find life elsewhere in the universe. If they can prove it's everywhere, then the life of earth, its claim to unique creation out of love, and its destiny will become just part of the mix and one of many, instead of being a unique, singular expression of love by a loving and creative God.

[bigheadfred]

It is my Friday.

I have a 3 day weekend every week.

Thanks for all you do, besides ALL you do.

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

So awesome!

[SunkenCiv]

Sounds like a great schedule!

[bigheadfred]

Yeah, I guess.

It pretty much takes me Friday to recover.

Just in time to sleep through the weekend.

(I wish)

[SunkenCiv]

My pleasure, and thanks for the kind remarks!

[SunkenCiv]

Far enough away is actually the way I prefer planets, but que sera, sera.

• So Many Lonely Planets with No Star to Guide Them
• Lonely Rogue Worlds Surprisingly Outnumber Planets with Suns
• 'Free-floating' planets found with no star in sight

[brytlea]

This is beautiful. It looks a little like my granite countertops! It always amazes me how nature looks similar, big or small. :)

[colorado tanker]

I don't always comment, Civ, but is sure is nice to have APOD again. Thanks!