Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 6217 portrayed by Hubble with the ACS

Click on the image for full resolution (3.7 MB)

This is the first image of a celestial object taken with the newly repaired Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). The camera was restored to operation during the STS-125 Servicing Mission to upgrade the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. The barred spiral galaxy NGC 6217 was photographed on 13 June and 8 July 2009, as part of the initial testing and calibration of Hubble's ACS. The galaxy lies 6 million light-years away in the north circumpolar constellation Ursa Major.
The full resolution image weighs 3.7 MB, so please be patient when downloading!
Credit: NASA, ESA and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team