Spiral galaxy NGC 4565, optical image. This galaxy is seen nearly edge-on from Earth, but its spiral structure can be deduced from the presence of the

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Spiral galaxy NGC 4565, optical image. This galaxy is seen nearly edge-on from Earth, but its spiral structure can be deduced from the presence of the dark lane of dust that bisects the disc. It also has a tight central bulge around its nucleus, which is characteristic of spiral galaxies. The bright nucleus itself is seen just above the dust lane at centre. NGC 4565 lies around 49 million light years from Earth in the constellation Coma Berenices.

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Size: 3639px × 2426px
Photo credit: © RUSSELL CROMAN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 2006, 4565, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, berenices, coma, dust, edge, edge-, galactic, galaxy, lane, ngc, single, space, spiral, telescope, universe