Image Credit & Copyright: SSRO-South, J. Harvey, S. Mazlin, D. Verschatse, J. Joaquin Perez, (UNC/CTIO/PROMPT)
Explanation: Large spiral galaxy NGC 4945 is seen edge-on near the center of this cosmic galaxy
portrait. In fact, NGC 4945 is almost the size of our own Milky Way Galaxy. Its own dusty disk, young blue star
clusters, and pink star forming regions standout in the sharp, colorful
telescopic image. About 13 million light-years distant toward the expansive
southern constellation Centaurus, NGC 4945
is only about six times farther away than Andromeda, the nearest large spiral
galaxy to the Milky Way. Though the galaxy's central region is largely hidden
from view for optical telescopes, X-ray and infrared observations indicate significant high energy
emission and star formation in the core of NGC 4945. Its obscured but
active nucleus qualifies the gorgeous island universe as a Seyfert galaxy and likely home to a central
supermassive black hole.
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