Date 2010	Location Marook, Australia	Software	Mount	Guide
Optic 16" RCOS	Camera SBIG ST-1001	Filter L/R-G-B	Exposure 900s x 12/18 (2x2)	Process Photoshop CS2

Billions and Billions.com/Southern Pinwheel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy M83

was discovered at the Cape of Good Hope in 1752 by Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, and is one of the most conspicuous spiral galaxies in the sky.  Located in the constellation Hydra, it is the southernmost Messier galaxy in the catalog.  This was the first galaxy to be discovered beyond the Local Group and the third of all galaxies found, after M31 and M32.  It forms the 'M83 Group' with the highly irregular galaxy Centaurus A and the unusual galaxy NGC 5253 in Centaurus.  M83 is classified as intermediate, between normal and barred spiral galaxies and is an SAB(s)c type.  The red knots are diffuse gaseous emission nebulae where star formation is occuring.  The blue regions represent young stellar populations which formed recently (millions of years ago).  Dark dust lanes follow the spiral structure throughout the disk, and may be traced well into the central region.  The nucleus is composed of older yellowish stars which dominate the whole central region, and extend along the bar-like structure.  M83's distance is about 10 million light years from Earth.  Five or six supernovae have been reported in the galaxy.  Many thanks to Dr. Bill Caspe for allowing me to process this wonderful data acquired with GRAS.  Return to the Gallery