Centaurus A galaxy (NGC 5128), infrared image from the Spitzer Space Telescope (SST). Infrared images allow astronomers to see behind dust clouds that

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Centaurus A galaxy (NGC 5128), infrared image from the Spitzer Space Telescope (SST). Infrared images allow astronomers to see behind dust clouds that obscure objects in visible light. The centre of Centaurus A is usually obscured by a massive dust lane, but here is the bright spot at centre. The rectangular line surrounding the centre is thought to be the remains of a galaxy that collided with Centaurus A. Centaurus A is about 10 million light years away in the constellation Centaurus. This image (obtained in 2004) shows infrared emissions between wavelengths of and microns. Image R670/032 uses different wavelengths to highlight different features of the galaxy.

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Size: 3405px × 2563px
Photo credit: © NASA/JPL/CALTECH/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 2004, 21st, 5128, active, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, centaurus, century, collided, colliding, collision, cosmos, dust, galactic, galaxy, infrared, ir, ngc, single, space, spitzer, sst, telescope, universe