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Galaxy NGC 4013 is a nearly edge on spiral galaxy some 55 million light years distant toward the constellation Urasa Major (or the Big Dipper). All spiral galaxies (including our own Milky Way galaxy) are highly flattened disk-like structures that resemble giant dinner plates. This particular spiral galaxy is oriented almost exactly "edge on," providing a view straight through the plane of the disk. This image shows the stars, gas, and dust that make up the disk of the galaxy, with the densest concentration of gas and dust confined to the very middle of the plane. Glaxy NGC 4013 is about 70,000 lights years across, about 35,00 light years of which is seen in this image.
Image and text copyright © Astrographics. All rights reserved. Image courtesy of Space Telescope Science Institute. |
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