Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2007 July 24
Credit & Copyright:Robert Gendler andStephane Guisard
Explanation:M83 is one of the closest and brightestspiral galaxies on the sky. Visible with binoculars in the constellation ofHydra, majestic spiral arms have prompted its nickname as the Southern Pinwheel. Although discovered 250 years ago,only much later was it appreciated thatM83 was not a nearby gas cloud, but abarred spiral galaxy much like our ownMilky Way Galaxy. M83,pictured above, is a prominent member of a group of galaxies that includesCentaurus A and NGC 5253, all of which lie about 15 millionlight years distant. Several brightsupernova explosions have been recorded in M83. An intriguingdouble circumnuclear ring has been discovered at the centerof M83.
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