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Centaurus

Centaurus is a prominent constellation in the southern sky, representing a centaur from Greek mythology. It contains notable celestial objects, including Alpha Centauri, the closest star system to the Sun, and Omega Centauri, the largest globular cluster in the Milky Way.

Source: noirlab.edu

APODs including "Centaurus"

Centaurus A

09/03/2017

Centaurus A
Image Credit: Fabian Neyer / NASA APOD

Only 11 million light-years away, Centaurus A is the closest active galaxy to planet Earth. Spanning over 60,000 light-years, the peculiar elliptical galaxy also known as NGC 5128, is featured in this sharp telescopic view. Centaurus A is apparently the result of a collision of two otherwise normal galaxies resulting in a fantastic jumble of star clusters and imposing dark dust lanes. Near the galaxy's center, left over cosmic debris is steadily being consumed by a central black hole with a billion times the mass of the Sun. As in other active galaxies, that process likely generates the radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray energy radiated by Centaurus A. The remarkably deep, visible light image offers further evidence of the ensuing cosmic violence in the faint shells and extended features surrounding the active galaxy.