Posted on 03/17/2022 4:06:03 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: A mere 11 million light-years away, Centaurus A is the closest active galaxy to planet Earth. Spanning over 60,000 light-years, the peculiar elliptical galaxy also known as NGC 5128, is featured in this sharp telescopic view. Centaurus A is apparently the result of a collision of two otherwise normal galaxies resulting in a fantastic jumble of star clusters and imposing dark dust lanes. Near the galaxy's center, leftover cosmic debris is steadily being consumed by a central black hole with a billion times the mass of the Sun. As in other active galaxies, that process likely generates the enormous radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray energy radiated by Centaurus A.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
“...11 million light-years away...”
That is what it looked liked 11 million years ago,
I wonder what it looks like now.
???
I observed some years ago in my 6” maksutov telescope. I probably would’ve missed it but I could just make out the dust lane.
It’s pretty cool actually SEEING the object, especially after star-hopping my way to its location. The thrill of the hunt!
If the universe is expanding how can you have collisions?
My attempts at finding stuff were a joke.
Examined Orion’s Belt as it could be seen and aimed at with the eye. Never found M31 that I knew of. Zeroing in on Saturn was almost too hard, but got it for a while.
Crappy scope with no low power finder...?
However, it takes practice. Easiest thing is to get a goto scope, but you still have to know what there is to be seen. Also need to be able to identify bright stars to align it.
“Also need to be able to identify bright stars to align it.”
My failing for never taking an astronomy class. Cannot ID any stars at all.
The constellations others seem to see are all just a jumble of stars to me.
Too literal on most things, my wife says.
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