NGC 5128

(= Arp 153

type Pec,

Centaurus A

This galaxy is situated in the M83 group

of galaxies. It is one of the most interesting and peculiar galaxies in the sky,

and is a strong source of radio radiation (therefore the designation Centaurus A);

it is actually the nearest radio galaxy.

It is of intermediate type between elliptical and disk (spiral) galaxies:

The main body has all characteristics of a large elliptical, but a pronounced

dust belt is superimposed well over the center, forming a disk plane around this

galaxy.

This galaxy seems to have “eaten” at least one larger spiral in the last few

billion years. However, the present author is not sure if this alone explains

the unique appearance of this galaxy: It may well be that this is one of the

rare “links” between “normal” ellipticals and “normal” disks.

In the radio part of the spectrum, Centaurus A exhibits two vast regions of

radio emission, starting in prolongation of the polar axis of the disk of

NGC 5128 and extending many hundreds of light years to each side.

Our image was obtained by David Malin with the Anglo-Australian Telescope.

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