NGC 4303 as seen with the VLT and ALMA at several wavelengths of light
This image of the nearby galaxy NGC 4303 was obtained by combining observations taken with the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) on ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) and with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), in which ESO is a partner. NGC 4303 is a spiral galaxy, with a bar of stars and gas at its centre, located approximately 55 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Virgo. The image is a combination of observations conducted at different wavelengths of light to map stellar populations and gas. ALMA’s observations are represented in brownish-orange tones and highlight the clouds of cold molecular gas that provide the raw material from which stars form. The MUSE data show up mainly in gold and blue. The bright golden glows map warm clouds of mainly ionised hydrogen, oxygen and sulphur gas, marking the presence of newly born stars, while the bluish regions reveal the distribution of slightly older stars.
The image was taken as part of the Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby GalaxieS (PHANGS) project, which is making high-resolution observations of nearby galaxies with telescopes operating across the electromagnetic spectrum.
Oikeudet:ESO/ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/PHANGS
Kuvasta
Tunnistus: | eso2110g |
Tyyppi: | Havainto |
Julkaisupäivä: | 16. heinäkuuta 2021 14:00 |
Vastaavat julkaisut: | eso2110 |
Koko: | 888 x 884 px |
Kohteesta
Taustakuvat
Koordinaatit
Position (RA): | 12 21 54.89 |
Position (Dec): | 4° 28' 24.88" |
Field of view: | 2.96 x 2.95 arcminutes |
Suuntaus: | Pohjoinen on -0.0° vasen pystysuuntaan nähden |
Värit ja suotimet
Kaista | Aallonpituus | Teleskooppi |
---|---|---|
Optinen G | 475 nm | Very Large Telescope MUSE |
Optinen OIII | 499 nm | Very Large Telescope MUSE |
Optinen R | 625 nm | Very Large Telescope MUSE |
Millimetri CO [2–1] | 1.2 cm | Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Band 6 |
Optinen SII | 673 nm | Very Large Telescope MUSE |
Optinen I | 775 nm | Very Large Telescope MUSE |
Optinen H-alpha | 656 nm | Very Large Telescope MUSE |