An infrared/visible comparison view of Messier 83
This image is a comparison of the view of the galaxy Messier 83 in visible and infrared light. The visible light image (right) was taken with the Wide Field Imager on the 2.2-metre MPG/ESO telescope at La Silla in Chile. The new infrared image (left) was taken with the HAWK-I instrument on the VLT at ESO’s Paranal Observatory. In the infrared, the dust that obscures many stars becomes nearly transparent, making the spiral arms less dramatic, but revealing a whole host of new stars that are otherwise invisible.
Credit:ESO/M. Gieles.
Acknowledgement: Mischa Schirmer
About the Image
| Id: | eso1020c |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 19 May 2010, 12:00 |
| Related releases: | eso1020 |
| Size: | 6886 x 3479 px |
About the Object
| Name: | Messier 83 |
| Type: | Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral |
| Distance: | 15 million light years |
| Category: | Galaxies |
Image Formats
Wallpapers
Colours & filters
| Band | Telescope |
|---|---|
| Optical B | MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope WFI |
| Infrared J | Very Large Telescope HAWK-I |
| Optical V | MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope WFI |
| Infrared H | Very Large Telescope HAWK-I |
| Optical R | MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope WFI |
| Infrared K | Very Large Telescope HAWK-I |
Notes: WFI optical data refers to the right image, Hawk-I data refers to the left image.