NGC 5128

Peculiar Galaxy NGC 5128 (= Arp 153 = Bennett 60 = Caldwell 77), type Pec, in Centaurus

Centaurus A

n5128aat.gif
Right Ascension 13 : 25.5 (h:m)
Declination -43 : 01 (deg:m)
Distance 15000.0 (kly)
Visual Brightness 7.0 (mag)
Apparent Dimension 18 x 14 (arc min)

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. This image is copyrighted and may be used for private purpose only. For any other kind of use, including internet mirroring and storing on CD-ROM, please contact Coral Cooksley of the Anglo Australian Observatory.

  • More information on this image by David Malin

    The bright blue-green star in the middle of the left part of the dust belt in this image is supernova 1986G (the only SN discovered in Centaurus A so far) which was discovered on May 3, 1986, by Reverend Robert Evans, and reached mag 12.5. The blue-green color occurs because David Malin could take the red plate used in this composit image only one year after the supernova occurred, and it had faded away at that time.

    In the SAC 110 best NGC object list. In John Caldwell's observing list. In the Astronomical League's Southern Sky Binocular Club list.

  • Bill Keel's Centaurus A page (University of Alabama)
  • HST investigation of NGC 5128's central region

    Hartmut Frommert (spider@seds.org)
    Christine Kronberg (smil@lrz.uni-muenchen.de)

    [SEDS] [MAA] [Home] [Non-Messier Indexes]

    Last Modification: 22 Mar 1998, 21:25 MET