Spitzer Mid-Inrared View of NGC 7331

Spitzer_ssc2004-12a3_1024

spitzer_ssc2004-12a3 June 28th, 2004

Credit: Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/M. Regan (STScI), and the SINGS Team

This infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured a nearby spiral galaxy that resembles our own Milky Way. The galaxy, known as NGC 7331 and sometimes referred to as our galaxy's twin, is found in the constellation Pegasus at a distance of 50 million light-years. This inclined galaxy was discovered in 1784 by William Herschel, who also discovered infrared light.

The image, measuring 12.6 by 8.2 arcminutes, was obtained by Spitzer's infrared array camera, shows emissions from wavelengths of 5.8 microns (yellow) and 8.0 microns (red). These wavelengths are roughly 10 times longer than those seen by the human eye.

The infrared light seen in this image is the glow from clouds of interstellar dust. This dust consists mainly of a variety of carbon-based organic molecules known collectively as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Wherever these compounds are found, there will also be dust granules and gas, which provide a reservoir of raw materials for future star formation.

Perhaps the most intriguing feature seen in this image is a ring of dust girdling the galaxy center. This ring, with a radius of nearly 20,000 light-years, is invisible at shorter wavelengths, yet has been detected at sub-millimeter and radio wavelengths. It is made up in large part of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Spitzer measurements suggest that the ring contains enough gas to produce four billion stars like the Sun. Starlight was systematically subtracted from the longer-wavelength picture to enhance dust features.

Three other galaxies are seen below NGC 7331, all about 10 times farther away. From left to right are NGC 7336, NGC 7335 and NGC 7337. The red dots scattered throughout the image are galaxies that are even more distant.

The Spitzer observations of NGC 7311 are part of a large 500-hour science project, known as the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxy Survey, which will comprehensively study 75 nearby galaxies with infrared imaging and spectroscopy.

Provider: Spitzer Space Telescope

Image Source: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/1256-ssc2004-12a3-Spitzer-Mid-Inrared-View-of-NGC-7331

Curator: Spitzer Space Telescope, Pasadena, CA, USA

Image Use Policy: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/info/18-Image-Use-Policy

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Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
NGC 7331 UGC 12113
Subject - Local Universe
Galaxy > Type > Spiral

Distance

Universescale2
49,000,000 light years
Spitzer_ssc2004-12a3_128
 

Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 22h 37m 8.4s
DEC = 34° 29’ 3.8”
Orientation
North is 101.1° CCW
Field of View
12.6 x 8.2 arcminutes
Constellation
Pegasus

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Blue Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared (Near-IR) 3.6 µm
Green Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared (Near-IR) 4.5 µm
Red Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared (Mid-IR) 5.8 µm
Red Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared (Mid-IR) 8.0 µm
The contribution from starlight has been subtracted from the 5.8 and 8.0 micron channels to enhance the visibility of dust features.
Spectrum_base
Blue
Green
Red
Red
Spitzer_ssc2004-12a3_1280
×
ID
ssc2004-12a3
Subject Category
C.5.1.1.  
Subject Name
NGC 7331, UGC 12113
Credits
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/M. Regan (STScI), and the SINGS Team
Release Date
2004-06-28
Lightyears
49,000,000
Redshift
0.002722
Reference Url
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/1256-ssc2004-12a3-Spitzer-Mid-Inrared-View-of-NGC-7331
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Distance from fast facts and NED
Facility
Spitzer, Spitzer, Spitzer, Spitzer
Instrument
IRAC, IRAC, IRAC, IRAC
Color Assignment
Blue, Green, Red, Red
Band
Infrared, Infrared, Infrared, Infrared
Bandpass
Near-IR, Near-IR, Mid-IR, Mid-IR
Central Wavelength
3600, 4500, 5800, 8000
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
T
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
Reference Value
339.284825313, 34.4843871516
Reference Dimension
1239, 805
Reference Pixel
236.567970276, 329.386547089
Scale
-0.00016946215848181, 0.00016946215848181
Rotation
101.08156796962
Coordinate System Projection:
TAN
Quality
Full
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
Spitzer Space Telescope
URL
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu
Name
Spitzer Space Telescope
Email
Telephone
Address
1200 E. California Blvd.
City
Pasadena
State/Province
CA
Postal Code
91125
Country
USA
Rights
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/info/18-Image-Use-Policy
Publisher
Spitzer Science Center
Publisher ID
spitzer
Resource ID
ssc2004-12a3.tif
Metadata Date
2012-10-11
Metadata Version
1.1
×

 

Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

×
Universescalefull
49,000,000 light years

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