Using the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile, astronomers have captured a stunning image of the barred spiral galaxy Messier 61.
This image, taken by the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope, shows Messier 61, a barred spiral galaxy located 52.5 million light-years away in the constellation of Virgo. The observations were done as part of the Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby GalaxieS (PHANGS) project. Image credit: ESO / PHANGS.
Messier 61 resides approximately 52.5 million light-years away in the constellation of Virgo.
The galaxy has an apparent magnitude of 10.2, is most easily spotted during the month of May and can be observed using a small telescope.
Messier 61 is roughly the size of our own Milky Way Galaxy, with a diameter of around 100,000 light-years.
Otherwise known as M61, NGC 4303, LEDA 40001 and IRAS 12194+0444, it was discovered on May 5, 1779 by the Italian astronomer Barnaba Oriani.
French astronomer Charles Messier noticed it on the same night as Oriani, but he mistook the galaxy for a passing comet.
“Messier 61 is one of the largest galactic members of the Virgo Cluster,” ESO astronomers said.
“Being a so-called starburst galaxy, it has an unusually high amount of stars being born, and has been used by astronomers as a laboratory to better understand the fascinating phenomena of star formation.”
“Stars form when clouds of cold gas collapse,” they explained.
“The energetic radiation from newly born stars will heat and ionize the surrounding remaining gas.”
“The ionized gas will shine, acting as a beacon of ongoing star formation.”
“In this stunning and jewel-like image of Messier 61, this glowing gas can be seen as the whirlpool of gold: the direct traces of stars being born.”
“The golden glow is a result of combining observations taken at different wavelengths of light with the MUSE instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope.”
“Here gas clouds of ionized oxygen, hydrogen and sulfur are shown in blue, green and red, respectively.”
