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| M83, (NGC5236) A barred spiral galaxy, sometimes called the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy, cropped and downsized to fit screen. Click on image for full frame, full resolution image |
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M83 is one of the showpieces in the southern deep sky,
but one of the most difficult of the Messier
objects for mid-northern observers. In medium to large amateur scopes M83
shows well defined spiral arms. In photos it displays a very dynamic appearance, with red and blue knots tracing the
arms. The red knots are apparently diffuse gaseous nebulae in which star
formation is just taking place, and which are excited to shine by its very
hot young stars. The blue regions represent young stellar populations. Dark
dust lanes follow the spiral structure throughout the disk, and may be
traced well into the central region of the nucleus. The nucleus of this
galaxy, and the bar like structure extending out from it, are composed of an
older yellowish
population of stars that have been coming to the end of their life cycles
since maybe 20 million years ago. The result is that in the core there is a
new round of stars being formed. Six supernovae have been reported in M83, more than
in any other Messier galaxy:
M83 is one of the closest (15 million light years) and brightest (magnitude 7.6) spiral galaxies in the sky. It can be found low in the southern sky in April and May in the constellation of Hydra, and is a prominent member of a group of galaxies that includes Centaurus A and NGC 5253, all of which lie about 15 million light years distant. |
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10" F6.3
Schmidt Cassegrain reflector, Modified Canon 300D camera at Prime focus |