Spiral galaxy NGC 1566
This image, taken by astronomers using the US Department of Energy-fabricated Dark Energy Camera on the Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, a Program of NSF’s NOIRLab, captures the galaxy NGC 1566 as it twirls, flinging its arms through the vastness of space. Colloquially nicknamed the Spanish Dancer, this spiral galaxy is often studied by astronomers learning about galaxy groups, stars of different ages, and galactic black holes.
Credit:Dark Energy Survey/DOE/FNAL/DECam/CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA
Image processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF’s NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Zamani & D. de Martin (NSF’s NOIRLab)
About the Image
| Id: | noirlab2208a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | Feb. 22, 2022, 8 a.m. |
| Related releases: | noirlab2208 |
| Size: | 4371 x 3514 px |
About the Object
| Name: | NGC 1566 |
| Distance: | 20 million light years |
| Constellation: | Dorado |
| Category: | Galaxies |
Image Formats
Wallpapers
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 4 20 2.51 |
| Position (Dec): | -54° 56' 30.16" |
| Field of view: | 19.15 x 15.39 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 89.7° left of vertical |
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colors & filters
| Band | Wave-length | Tele-scope |
|---|---|---|
| Optical g | 486 nm | Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope DECam |
| Optical r | 646 nm | Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope DECam |
| Optical i | 785 nm | Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope DECam |
| Optical z | 919 nm | Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope DECam |
| Optical Y | 990 nm | Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope DECam |