Dark Energy Camera Captures Stunning New Image of Messier 83 [View all]

Dec 9, 2024 by News Staff

The swirling spiral arms of Messier 83, one of the most prominent spiral galaxies in the night sky, display a high rate of star formation and have been host to six observed supernovae, according to astronomers from NSF’s NOIRLab.




This DECam image shows the spiral galaxy Messier 83. Image credit: CTIO / NOIRLab / DOE / NSF / AURA / T.A. Rector, University of Alaska Anchorage & NSF NOIRLab / D. de Martin, NSF NOIRLab / M. Zamani, NSF NOIRLab.


Messier 83 is located approximately 15 million light-years away in the southern constellation of Hydra.
Also known as the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy, M83, NGC 5236, LEDA 48082 and UGCA 366, this galaxy has a diameter of around 50,000 light-years — about twice as small as the Milky Way.

It has an apparent magnitude of 7.5 and is one of the brightest spiral galaxies in the night sky. It can be observed using a pair of binoculars most easily in May.

Messier 83 is oriented so that it is almost entirely face-on as seen from Earth, meaning that astronomers can observe its spiral structure in fantastic detail.

The galaxy is a prominent member of a group of galaxies known as the Centaurus A/M83 Group, which also counts the dusty NGC 5128 and the irregular galaxy NGC 5253 as members. It was discovered by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille on February 23, 1752.

More:
https://www.sci.news/astronomy/dark-energy-camera-image-messier-83-13491.html