MESSIER 83

SPIRAL GALAXY IN HYDRA

 (Image Centred at ra 13h:37m / dec -29:32)

April 2015 - Observatorio La Banderita, La Pampa, Argentina

DATA

Type: Spiral Galaxy

Visual Brightness: 7.6

Apparent diameter: 11 arc minutes 

Distance: 15 Million light years

IMAGE INFORMATION

Optic: 8" f5 Orion Optics Reflector with Televue Paracorr working at f5.75

CAMERA: QSI 583 WS  

FILTERS: Baader LRGB

Mount: Sky Watcher NEQ6

SKY CONDITIONS: pristine skies, seeing regular

EXPOSURES: LRGB (40,30,30,30)

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

M83 is a close and frontal galaxy with the classic spiral shape. A member of the small group that includes NGC 5253 and other dwarfs companions. It is also known as The Southern Pinwheel. The galaxy is a prolific supernova producer. Six were accounted in the past century and only over passed by NGC 6949 in Cepheus (not visible from our location) with a record of 8.

M83 centre indicates an exceptional ratio of stellar formation matching with its classification as a starburst type galaxy. Same as NGC 253 and M82. Its central region of about a thousand light years of extension shows a high level of complexity and the presence of a double nucleus on an uncertain nature. There are scientist hypothesis that the reason of the double core came after the fusion with other Galaxy of a minor size in its distant past.