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

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5.8 MB
Screensize JPEGScreensize JPEG
272.5 KB

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Coordinates

ObjectValue
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