Astronomers have released an ultra-detailed image of the Sculptor galaxy (NGC 253), offering unprecedented insight into one of the Milky Way's closest galactic neighbors.
Captured over 50 hours using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile, the image reveals the barred spiral galaxy in roughly 4,000 distinct colors—each linked to a specific optical wavelength.
This level of detail was achieved with the MUSE (Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer) instrument, enabling scientists to study everything from star formation to interstellar gas movement. Unlike conventional images that show only a few colors, this one allows researchers to analyze intricate components across the galaxy.
"NGC 253 is close enough that we can observe it in remarkable detail with MUSE, yet far enough that we can still see the entire galaxy in a single field of view," said astronomer Enrico Congiu, lead author of a study in Astronomy & Astrophysics. “That’s why NGC 253 is such a perfect target: it acts as a bridge between the ultra-detailed studies of the Milky Way and the large-scale studies of more distant galaxies.”
Located about 11 million light-years away, Sculptor is similar in size and mass to the Milky Way but produces new stars at two to three times the rate, especially near its core in a "starburst" region.
"Since the light from stars is typically bluer if the stars are young or redder if the stars are old, having thousands of colors lets us learn a lot about what stars and populations of stars exist in the galaxy," said Kathryn Kreckel of Heidelberg University. "Similarly for the gas... it tells us about the different elements that exist in the gas, and what is causing it to glow."
"I personally find these images amazing," Congiu added. "Every time I look at them, I notice something new."
Source: Reuters
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