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Hi all,
An image of the elliptical galaxy Messier 89 has been uploaded. This elliptical is not at all boring (like some of them are…). It has a complex structure of shells and wisps in its halo that is due to several mergers in the past. You can see this deep image at:
Enjoy,
Josep
Hi all,
An image of another barred spiral galaxy, M58, has been uploaded. Messier 58 has, like M90 and M91, a very low star formation rate, due to the stripping of its hydrogen gas by collision with the intergalactic medium. You can find the image and some more information at
Enjoy,
Josep
Hi all,
An image of a barred spiral galaxy, Messier 91, has been uploaded. This is an “anemic” galaxy, due to its low star formation rate. This is due to the lack of neutral Hydrogen (HI) that has been stripped from it due to the pressure exerted by the intergalactic medium as M91 moves. This is also what happens to M90. You can find the image as well as some more information at:
Enjoy,
Josep
Hi all,
Another Messier object, M61 a barred spiral galaxy, has been uploaded. This galaxy contains an AGN and has had eight supernova explosions in the century that passed since the first one spotted in 1926. You can see the image and additional informations at:
Enjoy,
Josep
Hi all,
A second Messier object, M85, has been uploaded today. M85 is an unusual elliptical galaxy. Due to a recent merger, M85 shows an external structure with faint, but clearly visible, outer shells. This deep image shows them. Another peculiarity is the absence of any supermassive black hole residing at M85’s center. Actually, similar to M31, M85 has a double nucleus and no X-Ray activity. You can find the image as well as some more information at:
Enjoy,
Josep
Hi all,
I know that it has been a while since my latest uploaded image. I apologize for that. Today, we have a new image displaying a double Globular Cluster: Messier 53 and NGC 5053. These clusters show a very peculiar tidal bridge between them as a consequence of a possible close gravitational encounter. This was discovered and described in 2010 (reference in the web site below).
Enjoy,
Josep
Hi all,
An image of the unusual spiral galaxy Messier 94 has been uploaded. M94 has three distinct rings, the very bright inner one, the central one (with fine structure given by the dust lanes) and the outer one that looks like not having any structure, but this is only in the optical region. In images taken with UV filters of in the mid-IR region, this outer ring shows a complex structure with spiral arms. You can see the image as well as some more info at
Enjoy,
Josep
Hi all,
Another image today, Messier 98, a spiral galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices. Seen nearly edge-on (74 degrees inclination) its nucleus is heavily obscured by intervening dust. You can find the image as well as some more info at:
Enjoy,
Josep
Hi all,
Messier 96 is an unusual galaxy. It is strongly asymmetrical but beautiful. M96 is the brightest member of the M96 group and has as neighbors two more Messier objects: M95 and M105. You can find the image and some more info at:
Enjoy,
Josep
Hi all,
An image of the spiral galaxy Messier 99 has been uploaded. A pretty, nearly face-on, unbarred spiral, M99 is quite fluffy. It has the same size as the Milky Way, but only 5% of its mass. The image as well as some more info can be found at:
Enjoy,
Josep
