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Collection:
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NASA Spitzer Space Telescope Collection
Collection
NASA Spitzer Space Telescope Collection
Collection
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Title:
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First Peek at Spitzer's Legacy: Mysterious Whirlpool Galaxy
Title
First Peek at Spitzer's Legacy: Mysterious Whirlpool Galaxy
Title
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Description:
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NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured these infrared images of the "Whirlpool Galaxy," revealing strange structures bridging the gaps between the dust-rich spiral arms, and tracing the dust, gas and stellar populations in both the bright spiral galaxy and its companion.
The Spitzer image is a four-color composite of invisible light, showing emissions from wavelengths of 3.6 microns (blue), 4.5 microns (green), 5.8 microns (orange) and 8.0 microns (red). These wavelengths are roughly 10 times longer than those seen by the human eye.
The visible light image comes from the Kitt Peak National Observatory 2.1m telescope, and has the same orientation and size as the Spitzer infrared image, measuring 9.9 by 13.7 arcminutes (north up). Also a four-color composite, the visible light image shows emissions from 0.4 to 0.7 microns, including the H-alpha nebular feature (red in the image).
The light seen in the images originates from very different sources. At shorter wavelengths (in the visible bands, and in the infrared from 3.6 to 4.5 microns), the light comes mainly from stars. This starlight fades at longer wavelengths (5.8 to 8.0 microns), where we see the glow from clouds of interstellar dust. This dust consists mainly of a variety of carbon-based organic molecules known collectively as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Wherever these compounds are found, there will also be dust granules and gas, which provide a reservoir of raw materials for future star formation.
Particularly puzzling are the large number of thin filaments of red emission seen in the infrared data between the arms of the large spiral galaxy. In contrast to the beady nature of the dust emission seen in the arms themselves, these spoke-like features are thin and regular, and prevalent in the gaps all over the face of the galaxy.
Also of interest is the contrast in the distributions of dust and stars between the spiral and its faint companion. While the spiral is rich in dust, bright in the longer infrared wavebands, and actively forming new stars, its blue companion shows little infrared emission and hosts an older stellar population. The spectacular whirlpool structure and star formation in M51 are thought to be triggered by an ongoing collision with its companion. Understanding the impact on star formation by the interaction of galaxies is one of the goals of these observations.
The targeted galaxy is known by various names: M51 from its Messier catalog designation, and also as NGC 5194. M51 was one of the original discoveries of Charles Messier, found in October 1773 while he was observing a faint comet. The Messier catalogue of galaxies is named after him. Colloquially, M51 is also known as the "Whirlpool Galaxy", or "Rosse's Galaxy," after Lord Rosse, who first detected galaxy spiral structure in his observations of M51. The companion, NGC 5195, was discovered in 1781 by Pierre Mechain.
The Whirlpool galaxy is a favorite target for amateur and professional
Description
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured these infrared images of the "Whirlpool Galaxy," revealing strange structures bridging the gaps between the dust-rich spiral arms, and tracing the dust, gas and stellar populations in both the bright spiral galaxy and its companion.
The Spitzer image is a four-color composite of invisible light, showing emissions from wavelengths of 3.6 microns (blue), 4.5 microns (green), 5.8 microns (orange) and 8.0 microns (red). These wavelengths are roughly 10 times longer than those seen by the human eye.
The visible light image comes from the Kitt Peak National Observatory 2.1m telescope, and has the same orientation and size as the Spitzer infrared image, measuring 9.9 by 13.7 arcminutes (north up). Also a four-color composite, the visible light image shows emissions from 0.4 to 0.7 microns, including the H-alpha nebular feature (red in the image).
The light seen in the images originates from very different sources. At shorter wavelengths (in the visible bands, and in the infrared from 3.6 to 4.5 microns), the light comes mainly from stars. This starlight fades at longer wavelengths (5.8 to 8.0 microns), where we see the glow from clouds of interstellar dust. This dust consists mainly of a variety of carbon-based organic molecules known collectively as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Wherever these compounds are found, there will also be dust granules and gas, which provide a reservoir of raw materials for future star formation.
Particularly puzzling are the large number of thin filaments of red emission seen in the infrared data between the arms of the large spiral galaxy. In contrast to the beady nature of the dust emission seen in the arms themselves, these spoke-like features are thin and regular, and prevalent in the gaps all over the face of the galaxy.
Also of interest is the contrast in the distributions of dust and stars between the spiral and its faint companion. While the spiral is rich in dust, bright in the longer infrared wavebands, and actively forming new stars, its blue companion shows little infrared emission and hosts an older stellar population. The spectacular whirlpool structure and star formation in M51 are thought to be triggered by an ongoing collision with its companion. Understanding the impact on star formation by the interaction of galaxies is one of the goals of these observations.
The targeted galaxy is known by various names: M51 from its Messier catalog designation, and also as NGC 5194. M51 was one of the original discoveries of Charles Messier, found in October 1773 while he was observing a faint comet. The Messier catalogue of galaxies is named after him. Colloquially, M51 is also known as the "Whirlpool Galaxy", or "Rosse's Galaxy," after Lord Rosse, who first detected galaxy spiral structure in his observations of M51. The companion, NGC 5195, was discovered in 1781 by Pierre Mechain.
The Whirlpool galaxy is a favorite target for amateur and professional
Description
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Description:
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astronomers, alike, and was the first light target for the Infrared Space Observatory. Found in the constellation Canes Venatici, M51 is 37 million light-years away.
The Spitzer observations of M51 are part of a large 500-hour science project, known as the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxy Survey, which will comprehensively study 75 nearby galaxies with infrared imaging and spectroscopy. From these data, astronomers will probe the physical processes connecting star formation to the properties of galaxies. This information will provide a vital foundation of data, diagnostic tools, and astrophysical inputs for understanding the distant universe, ultraluminous galaxies, and the formation and evolution of galaxies.
Description
astronomers, alike, and was the first light target for the Infrared Space Observatory. Found in the constellation Canes Venatici, M51 is 37 million light-years away.
The Spitzer observations of M51 are part of a large 500-hour science project, known as the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxy Survey, which will comprehensively study 75 nearby galaxies with infrared imaging and spectroscopy. From these data, astronomers will probe the physical processes connecting star formation to the properties of galaxies. This information will provide a vital foundation of data, diagnostic tools, and astrophysical inputs for understanding the distant universe, ultraluminous galaxies, and the formation and evolution of galaxies.
Description
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Release Date:
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2004/10/07
Release_Date
2004/10/07
Release Date
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Release Date:
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11/05/04
Release_Date
11/05/04
Release Date
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Press Release:
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Press_Release
Press Release
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Release Credit:
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NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Kennicutt (Univ. of Arizona)/DSS
Release_Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Kennicutt (Univ. of Arizona)/DSS
Release Credit
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Image Credit:
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R. Kennicutt (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Arizona)
Image_Credit
R. Kennicutt (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Arizona)
Image Credit
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Object name:
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M51
Object_name
M51
Object name
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Object name:
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Messier 51
Object_name
Messier 51
Object name
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Object name:
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Whirlpool Galaxy
Object_name
Whirlpool Galaxy
Object name
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Object name:
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NGC 5194
Object_name
NGC 5194
Object name
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Object type:
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Galaxy pair
Object_type
Galaxy pair
Object type
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Position (J2000):
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*RA: *13h29m55.70s *Dec: *47d13m53.00s
Position_(J2000)
*RA: *13h29m55.70s *Dec: *47d13m53.00s
Position (J2000)
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Distance:
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37 million light-years or 11 Mpc
Distance
37 million light-years or 11 Mpc
Distance
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Constellation:
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Canes Venatici
Constellation
Canes Venatici
Constellation
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Wavelength:
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3.6 (blue), 4.5 (blue-green), 5.6 (yellow), 8.0 (red) microns
Wavelength
3.6 (blue), 4.5 (blue-green), 5.6 (yellow), 8.0 (red) microns
Wavelength
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Wavelength:
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B, V, R, and H-alpha
Wavelength
B, V, R, and H-alpha
Wavelength
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Image scale:
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9.9 x 13.7 arcmin
Image_scale
9.9 x 13.7 arcmin
Image scale
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Observers:
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Robert Kennicutt, Principal Investigator (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona)
Lee Armus (Spitzer Science Center, Caltech)
George Bendo (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona)
Daniela Calzetti (Space Telescope Science Institute)
Daniel Dale (University of Wyoming)
Bruce Draine (Princeton University)
Charles Engelbracht (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona)
Karl Gordon (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona)
George Helou (Caltech)
David Hollenbach (NASA Ames Research Center)
Thomas Jarrett (Caltech)
Lisa Kewley (Harvard Center for Astrophysics)
Claus Leitherer (Space Telescope Science Institute)
Aigen Li (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona)
Sangeeta Malhotra (Space Telescope Science Institute)
Martin Meyer (Space Telescope Science Institute)
Eric Murphy (Yale University)
Michael Regan (Space Telescope Science Institute)
George Rieke (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona)
Marcia Rieke (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona)
Helene Roussel (Caltech)
John-David Smith (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona)
Michele D. Thornley (Bucknell University, Space Telescope Science Institute)
Fabian Walter (National Radio Astronomy Observatory)
Observers
Robert Kennicutt, Principal Investigator (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona)
Lee Armus (Spitzer Science Center, Caltech)
George Bendo (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona)
Daniela Calzetti (Space Telescope Science Institute)
Daniel Dale (University of Wyoming)
Bruce Draine (Princeton University)
Charles Engelbracht (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona)
Karl Gordon (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona)
George Helou (Caltech)
David Hollenbach (NASA Ames Research Center)
Thomas Jarrett (Caltech)
Lisa Kewley (Harvard Center for Astrophysics)
Claus Leitherer (Space Telescope Science Institute)
Aigen Li (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona)
Sangeeta Malhotra (Space Telescope Science Institute)
Martin Meyer (Space Telescope Science Institute)
Eric Murphy (Yale University)
Michael Regan (Space Telescope Science Institute)
George Rieke (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona)
Marcia Rieke (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona)
Helene Roussel (Caltech)
John-David Smith (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona)
Michele D. Thornley (Bucknell University, Space Telescope Science Institute)
Fabian Walter (National Radio Astronomy Observatory)
Observers
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Instrument:
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IRAC
Instrument
IRAC
Instrument
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Instrument:
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KPNO 2.1m telescope, Cassagrain CCD camera
Instrument
KPNO 2.1m telescope, Cassagrain CCD camera
Instrument
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Exposure Date:
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May 18 and May 22, 2004
Exposure_Date
May 18 and May 22, 2004
Exposure Date
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Exposure Date:
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March 28-29, 2003
Exposure_Date
March 28-29, 2003
Exposure Date
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Exposure Time:
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4 minutes
Exposure_Time
4 minutes
Exposure Time
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Exposure Time:
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12 min (B,V), 6 min (R), 30 min (H-alpha)
Exposure_Time
12 min (B,V), 6 min (R), 30 min (H-alpha)
Exposure Time
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Orientation:
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North is up
Orientation
North is up
Orientation
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Magnitude:
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8.4
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note:
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*Visible-light image* Screen-Resolution (326x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas…ssc2004-19a1_small.j pg ] High-Resolution (1551x2142): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit: DSS
note
*Visible-light image* Screen-Resolution (326x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas…ssc2004-19a1_small.j pg ] High-Resolution (1551x2142): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit: DSS note
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note:
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*Spitzer image* Screen-Resolution (326x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas…ssc2004-19a2_small.j pg ] High-Resolution (1551x2142): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Kennicutt (Univ. of Arizona)
note
*Spitzer image* Screen-Resolution (326x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas…ssc2004-19a2_small.j pg ] High-Resolution (1551x2142): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Kennicutt (Univ. of Arizona) note
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facet_what:
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Spitzer Space Telescope
facet_what
Spitzer Space Telescope
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Visible Light
facet_what
Visible Light
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Canes Venatici
facet_what
Canes Venatici
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Infrared Array Camera (IRAC)
facet_what
Infrared Array Camera (IRAC)
facet_what
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facet_where:
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Arizona
facet_where
Arizona
facet_where
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facet_where:
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|
Wyoming
facet_where
Wyoming
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Whirlpool Galaxy
facet_where
Whirlpool Galaxy
facet_where
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facet_where:
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M51
facet_where
M51
facet_where
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facet_where:
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NGC 5194
facet_where
NGC 5194
facet_where
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facet_where:
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NGC 5195
facet_where
NGC 5195
facet_where
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|
facet_where:
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|
Pierre
facet_where
Pierre
facet_where
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|
facet_where:
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Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
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|
facet_where:
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|
Washington, D.C.
facet_where
Washington, D.C.
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Ames Research Center (ARC)
facet_where
Ames Research Center (ARC)
facet_where
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facet_when:
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1781
facet_when
1781
facet_when
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facet_when:
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|
October 1773
facet_when
October 1773
facet_when
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|
facet_when:
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|
May 22, 2004
facet_when
May 22, 2004
facet_when
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facet_when:
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|
11-05-04
facet_when
11-05-04
facet_when
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|
facet_when_year:
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|
2004
facet_when_year
2004
facet_when_year
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|
facet_when_year:
|
|
1773
facet_when_year
1773
facet_when_year
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|
facet_when_year:
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1781
facet_when_year
1781
facet_when_year
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Image #:
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ssc2004-19a
Image_#
ssc2004-19a
Image #
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original url:
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original_url
original url
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UID:
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SPD-SPITZ-ssc2004-19 a
UID
SPD-SPITZ-ssc2004-19 a
UID
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