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Friday, January 10, 2014

Messier 83


This new Hubble image shows the scatterings of bright stars and thick dust that make up spiral galaxy Messier 83, otherwise known as the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy. One of the largest and closest barred spirals to us, this galaxy is dramatic and mysterious; it has hosted a large number of supernova explosions, and appears to have a double nucleus lurking at its core.

Image credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA). Acknowledgement: William Blair (Johns Hopkins University)

Note: For more information, see A Galaxy With Two Hearts.

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