Astronomy Picture of the Day

NASA ^ | 3/28/07 | R.Gilbert D.Goldman,J.Harvey D.Verschatse D.Reichart

[sig226]

NGC 1365: Majestic Island Universe
Credit & Copyright: SSRO-South (R.Gilbert,D.Goldman,J.Harvey,D.Verschatse) - PROMPT (D.Reichart)

Explanation: Barred spiral galaxy NGC 1365 is truly a majestic island universe some 200,000 light-years across. Located a mere 60 million light-years away toward the chemical constellation Fornax, NGC 1365 is a dominant member of the well-studied Fornax galaxy cluster. This impressively sharp color image shows intense star forming regions at the ends of the bar and along the spiral arms, as well as details of dust lanes cutting across the galaxy's bright core. At the core lies a supermassive black hole. Astronomers think NGC 1365's prominent bar plays a crucial role in the galaxy's evolution, drawing gas and dust into a star-forming maelstrom and ultimately feeding material into the central black hole.

[sig226]

[JerseyJohn61]

I would like to see this galaxy's profile and how it looks
from it's edge. I bet it bulges in the center like a pot-
bellied stove. Lott'a feeding going on in the center as the
rest of the "family" spins about while kickin' and
screamin'.

I have a feeling that the core of this critter is a lot
older and more established than its' outer portion. I sense collision, convergence and capture....JJ61

[TheKidster]

Awesome