                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                 2021 May 17

                          NGC 4565: Galaxy on Edge
      Image Credit & Copyright: CFHT, Coelum, MegaCam, J.-C. Cuillandre
                       (CFHT) & G. A. Anselmi (Coelum)

   Explanation: Is our Milky Way Galaxy this thin? Magnificent spiral
   galaxy NGC 4565 is viewed edge-on from planet Earth. Also known as the
   Needle Galaxy for its narrow profile, bright NGC 4565 is a stop on many
   telescopic tours of the northern sky, in the faint but well-groomed
   constellation Coma Berenices. This sharp, colorful image reveals the
   spiral galaxy's boxy, bulging central core cut by obscuring dust lanes
   that lace NGC 4565's thin galactic plane. An assortment of other
   background galaxies is included in the pretty field of view. Thought
   similar in shape to our own Milky Way Galaxy, NGC 4565 lies about 40
   million light-years distant and spans some 100,000 light-years. Easily
   spotted with small telescopes, sky enthusiasts consider NGC 4565 to be
   a prominent celestial masterpiece Messier missed.

                    Tomorrow's picture: stellar necklace
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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