The Stars of the Barred Sculptor Galaxy

Spitzer_ssc2013-07a2_1024

spitzer_ssc2013-07a2 August 22nd, 2013

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The spectacular swirling arms and central bar of the Sculptor galaxy are revealed in this new starlight view from NASAs Spitzer Space Telescope.

Also known as NGC 253, the Sculptor galaxy is part of a cluster of galaxies visible to observers in the Southern hemisphere. It is known as a starburst galaxy for the extraordinarily strong star formation in its nucleus.

In this image, the blue glow primarily comes from stars as seen at shorter wavelengths of infrared light. In this view, the disk, spiral arms and central bar are much easier to identify than in visible light because the obscuring effects of dust are minimized.

While Spitzer is now operating without any onboard cryogen, it can still operate its shorter-wavelength detectors to produce images like this. Spitzer continues to be a valuable tool for studying the infrared properties of galaxies near and far.

Infrared light with wavelengths of 3.6 and 4.5 microns is shown as blue/cyan. These observations were made during Spitzer's early cold, or cryogenic, mission but are typical of what can be achieved during the ongoing warm mission phase.

Provider: Spitzer Space Telescope

Image Source: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/5635-ssc2013-07a2-The-Stars-of-the-Barred-Sculptor-Galaxy

Curator: Spitzer Space Telescope, Pasadena, CA, USA

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

Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
Sculptor Galaxy NGC 253
Subject - Local Universe
Galaxy > Type > Spiral
Galaxy > Type > Barred
Galaxy > Activity > Starburst

Distance

Universescale2
11,400,000 light years
Spitzer_ssc2013-07a2_128
 

Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 0h 47m 34.2s
DEC = -25° 17’ 58.4”
Orientation
North is 37.2° CCW
Field of View
34.6 x 29.2 arcminutes
Constellation
Sculptor

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Blue Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared (Near-IR) 3.6 µm
Cyan Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared (Near-IR) 4.5 µm
Green Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared (Mid-IR) 8.0 µm
Red Spitzer (MIPS) Infrared (Mid-IR) 24.0 µm
Spectrum_ir1
Blue
Cyan
Green
Red
Spitzer_ssc2013-07a2_1280
×
ID
ssc2013-07a2
Subject Category
C.5.1.1   C.5.1.2   C.5.3.3  
Subject Name
Sculptor Galaxy, NGC 253
Credits
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Release Date
2013-08-22
Lightyears
11,400,000
Redshift
0.000811
Reference Url
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/5635-ssc2013-07a2-The-Stars-of-the-Barred-Sculptor-Galaxy
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Spitzer, Spitzer, Spitzer, Spitzer
Instrument
IRAC, IRAC, IRAC, MIPS
Color Assignment
Blue, Cyan, Green, Red
Band
Infrared, Infrared, Infrared, Infrared
Bandpass
Near-IR, Near-IR, Mid-IR, Mid-IR
Central Wavelength
3600, 4500, 8000, 24000
Start Time
Integration Time
307.08
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
J2000
Reference Value
11.8925589, -25.2995642
Reference Dimension
3200.0, 2700.0
Reference Pixel
1601.0, 1351.0
Scale
0.000180108, 0.00018010829
Rotation
37.19
Coordinate System Projection:
TAN
Quality
Full
FITS Header
Notes
WCS retrieved using CXCs PinpointWCS
Creator (Curator)
Spitzer Space Telescope
URL
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu
Name
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
ssc2013-07a2.tif
Metadata Date
2013-08-23
Metadata Version
1.1
×

 

Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

×
Universescalefull
11,400,000 light years

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