NGC 6300
This near-infrared images is of NGC 6300, an intriguing barred spiral galaxy. The image shows the galaxys complex arm structure forming a spectacular ring of star formation. The galaxys bar also has a strong vein of dust that almost obscures its bright active nucleus. At the center of the galaxy resides a black hole with an estimated mass of 280,000 Suns.
| Observatory: | Gemini Observatory (South) Cerro Pachon, Chile |
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| Telescope: | Gemini South |
| Instrument: | FLAMINGOS-2 |
| Astronomer: | Gemini Observatory and T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage) |
| Date of Observation: | 05-12-2013 |
| Filters and Assigned Colors: | Y (blue), J (cyan), H (green) and K (red) |
| Exposure Times: | 80sec in Y, 40 sec in JHK |
| Location of Image: | Ara |
| Field of View: | 3.1 x 2.9 arcmin |
| Orientation: | North is up, East is left |
| Link to Larger Image | |
| Link to Full Resolution Image | |
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