Friday, April 29, 2011

Giant Elliptical Galaxy NGC 1316 brilliantly portrayed by Hubble!

Giant Elliptical Galaxy NGC 1316 brilliantly portrayed by Hubble!
Click on the image for full resolution (4.6 MB)

Like dust bunnies that lurk in corners and under beds, surprisingly complex loops and blobs of cosmic dust lie hidden in the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 1316. This image made from data obtained with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope reveals the dust lanes and star clusters of this giant galaxy that give evidence that it was formed from a past merger of two gas-rich galaxies.
The full resolution image weighs 4.6 MB, so please be patient when downloading!
Credit: NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

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