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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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Our Chaotic Neighbor
Title
Our Chaotic Neighbor
Title
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Description:
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This vibrant image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy to our own Milky Way galaxy.
The infrared image, a mosaic of more than 100,000 individual tiles, offers astronomers a unique chance to study the lifecycle of stars and dust in a single galaxy. Nearly one million objects are revealed for the first time in this Spitzer view, which represents about a 1,000-fold improvement in sensitivity over previous space-based missions. Most of the new objects are dusty stars of various ages populating the Large Magellanic Cloud; the rest are thought to be background galaxies.
The blue color in the picture, seen most prominently in the central bar, represents starlight from older stars. The chaotic, bright regions outside this bar are filled with hot, massive stars buried in thick blankets of dust. The red clouds contain cooler interstellar gas and molecular-sized dust grains illuminated by ambient starlight.
The Large Magellanic Cloud, located 160,000 light-years from Earth, is one of a handful of dwarf galaxies that orbit our own Milky Way. It is approximately one-third as wide as the Milky Way, and, if it could be seen in its entirety, would cover the same amount of sky as a grid of about 480 full moons. About one-third of the whole galaxy can be seen in the Spitzer image.
This picture is a composite of infrared light captured by Spitzer's infrared array camera. Light with wavelengths of 8 and 5.8 microns is red and orange: 4.5-micron light is green; and 3.6-micron light is blue.
Description
This vibrant image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy to our own Milky Way galaxy.
The infrared image, a mosaic of more than 100,000 individual tiles, offers astronomers a unique chance to study the lifecycle of stars and dust in a single galaxy. Nearly one million objects are revealed for the first time in this Spitzer view, which represents about a 1,000-fold improvement in sensitivity over previous space-based missions. Most of the new objects are dusty stars of various ages populating the Large Magellanic Cloud; the rest are thought to be background galaxies.
The blue color in the picture, seen most prominently in the central bar, represents starlight from older stars. The chaotic, bright regions outside this bar are filled with hot, massive stars buried in thick blankets of dust. The red clouds contain cooler interstellar gas and molecular-sized dust grains illuminated by ambient starlight.
The Large Magellanic Cloud, located 160,000 light-years from Earth, is one of a handful of dwarf galaxies that orbit our own Milky Way. It is approximately one-third as wide as the Milky Way, and, if it could be seen in its entirety, would cover the same amount of sky as a grid of about 480 full moons. About one-third of the whole galaxy can be seen in the Spitzer image.
This picture is a composite of infrared light captured by Spitzer's infrared array camera. Light with wavelengths of 8 and 5.8 microns is red and orange: 4.5-micron light is green; and 3.6-micron light is blue.
Description
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Release Date:
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2006/08/28
Release_Date
2006/08/28
Release Date
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Release Credit:
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NASA/JPL-Caltech/M. Meixner (STScI) & the SAGE Legacy Team
Release_Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech/M. Meixner (STScI) & the SAGE Legacy Team
Release Credit
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Image Credit:
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NASA/JPL-Caltech/M. Meixner (STScI) & the SAGE Legacy Team
Image_Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech/M. Meixner (STScI) & the SAGE Legacy Team
Image Credit
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Object name:
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LMC
Object_name
LMC
Object name
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Object type:
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Galaxy, Irregular/ Spiral Barred
Object_type
Galaxy, Irregular/ Spiral Barred
Object type
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Position (J2000):
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*RA: *05h18m48.00s *Dec: *-68d34m12.00s
Position_(J2000)
*RA: *05h18m48.00s *Dec: *-68d34m12.00s
Position (J2000)
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Distance:
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50 kpc, or 163,000 light-years
Distance
50 kpc, or 163,000 light-years
Distance
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Constellation:
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Dorado and Mensa
Constellation
Dorado and Mensa
Constellation
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Wavelength:
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3.6 (blue), 4.5 (green), 5.8 and 8.0 (red)
Wavelength
3.6 (blue), 4.5 (green), 5.8 and 8.0 (red)
Wavelength
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Image scale:
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7.36 x 7.36 degrees
Image_scale
7.36 x 7.36 degrees
Image scale
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Observers:
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Margaret Meixner (STScI)
Karl D. Gordon (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Arizona)
Barbara Whitney (SSI, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison)
Marilyn Meade (Univ. of Wisconsin)
Brian Babler (Univ. of Wisconsin)
Remy Indebetouw (Univ. of Virginia)
Joseph L. Hora (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA)
Charles W. Engelbracht (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Ariz.)
Bi-Qing For (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Ariz.)
Karl Misselt (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Ariz.)
Uma Vijh (STScI)
Martin Cohen (Univ. of California, Berkeley)
Claus Leitherer (STScI)
Robert Blum (Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory, Spain)
William Reach (Spitzer Science Center, Caltech)
Jean-Philippe Bernard (Centre d?Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements, Direction de la Recherche, France)
Francois Boulanger (Astrophysique de Pari, Institute, France)
Miwa Block (Steweard Observatory)
Ed B. Churchwell (Univ. of Wisconsin)
Jay A. Frogel (AURA)
Yasuo Fukui (Nagoya University, Japan)
Jay Gallagher (Univ. of Wisconsin)
Varoujan Gorjian (JPL)
Jason Harris (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Ariz.)
Douglas Kelly (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Ariz.)
Akiko Kawamura (Nagoya University, Japan)
So Young Kim (Johns Hopkins Univ.)
William B. Latter (Spitzer Science Center, Caltech)
Suzanne Madden (Service d?Astrophysique CEA, France)
Ciska Markwick- Kemper (Univ. of Virgina)
Akira Mizuno (Nagoya University, Japan)
Norikazu Mizuno (Nagoya University, Japan)
Jeremy Mould (NOAO)
Antonella Nota (STScI)
M.S. Oey (University of Michigan)
Knut Olsen (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Ariz.)
Toshikazu Onishi (Nagoya University, Japan)
Roberta Paladini (Univ. of California, Berkeley)
Nino Panagia (STScI)
Pablo Perez- Gonzalez (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Ariz.)
Hiroshi Shibai (Nagoya University, Japan)
Shuji Sato (Nagoya University, Japan)
Marta Sewilo (Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison)
Linda Smith (University College London)
Lister Staveley-Smith (Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Australia)
A.G.G.M. Tielens (NASA AMES Research Center)
Toshiya Ueta (URSA/NASA Ames Research Center)
Schuyler Van Dyk (Spitzer Science Center, Caltech)
Kevin Volk (Gemini Observatory)
Michael Werner (JPL)
Dennis Zaritsky (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Ariz.)
Observers
Margaret Meixner (STScI)
Karl D. Gordon (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Arizona)
Barbara Whitney (SSI, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison)
Marilyn Meade (Univ. of Wisconsin)
Brian Babler (Univ. of Wisconsin)
Remy Indebetouw (Univ. of Virginia)
Joseph L. Hora (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA)
Charles W. Engelbracht (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Ariz.)
Bi-Qing For (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Ariz.)
Karl Misselt (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Ariz.)
Uma Vijh (STScI)
Martin Cohen (Univ. of California, Berkeley)
Claus Leitherer (STScI)
Robert Blum (Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory, Spain)
William Reach (Spitzer Science Center, Caltech)
Jean-Philippe Bernard (Centre d?Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements, Direction de la Recherche, France)
Francois Boulanger (Astrophysique de Pari, Institute, France)
Miwa Block (Steweard Observatory)
Ed B. Churchwell (Univ. of Wisconsin)
Jay A. Frogel (AURA)
Yasuo Fukui (Nagoya University, Japan)
Jay Gallagher (Univ. of Wisconsin)
Varoujan Gorjian (JPL)
Jason Harris (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Ariz.)
Douglas Kelly (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Ariz.)
Akiko Kawamura (Nagoya University, Japan)
So Young Kim (Johns Hopkins Univ.)
William B. Latter (Spitzer Science Center, Caltech)
Suzanne Madden (Service d?Astrophysique CEA, France)
Ciska Markwick- Kemper (Univ. of Virgina)
Akira Mizuno (Nagoya University, Japan)
Norikazu Mizuno (Nagoya University, Japan)
Jeremy Mould (NOAO)
Antonella Nota (STScI)
M.S. Oey (University of Michigan)
Knut Olsen (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Ariz.)
Toshikazu Onishi (Nagoya University, Japan)
Roberta Paladini (Univ. of California, Berkeley)
Nino Panagia (STScI)
Pablo Perez- Gonzalez (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Ariz.)
Hiroshi Shibai (Nagoya University, Japan)
Shuji Sato (Nagoya University, Japan)
Marta Sewilo (Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison)
Linda Smith (University College London)
Lister Staveley-Smith (Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Australia)
A.G.G.M. Tielens (NASA AMES Research Center)
Toshiya Ueta (URSA/NASA Ames Research Center)
Schuyler Van Dyk (Spitzer Science Center, Caltech)
Kevin Volk (Gemini Observatory)
Michael Werner (JPL)
Dennis Zaritsky (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Ariz.)
Observers
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Instrument:
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IRAC
Instrument
IRAC
Instrument
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Exposure Date:
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July 15- 26, 2005, and October 26- November 2, 2005
Exposure_Date
July 15- 26, 2005, and October 26- November 2, 2005
Exposure Date
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Exposure Time:
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43 seconds
Exposure_Time
43 seconds
Exposure Time
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Orientation:
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North is 27 deg CW from up
Orientation
North is 27 deg CW from up
Orientation
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note:
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*better-resolution image* Screen-Resolution (450x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas…ssc2006-17a1_small.j pg ] High-Resolution (6000x6000): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/M. Meixner (STScI) & the SAGE Legacy Team
note
*better-resolution image* Screen-Resolution (450x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas…ssc2006-17a1_small.j pg ] High-Resolution (6000x6000): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/M. Meixner (STScI) & the SAGE Legacy Team note
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note:
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*Full-resolution (65 MB) image* Screen-Resolution (450x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas…ssc2006-17a1_small.j pg ] High-Resolution (13250x13250): JPEG Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/M. Meixner (STScI) & the SAGE Legacy Team
note
*Full-resolution (65 MB) image* Screen-Resolution (450x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas…ssc2006-17a1_small.j pg ] High-Resolution (13250x13250): JPEG Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/M. Meixner (STScI) & the SAGE Legacy Team 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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Earth
facet_what
Earth
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Dorado
facet_what
Dorado
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Aura
facet_what
Aura
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Mensa
facet_what
Mensa
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Gemini
facet_what
Gemini
facet_what
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facet_what:
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SAGE
facet_what
SAGE
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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California
facet_where
California
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Madison
facet_where
Madison
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Wisconsin
facet_where
Wisconsin
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Virginia
facet_where
Virginia
facet_where
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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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Milky Way Galaxy
facet_where
Milky Way Galaxy
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Douglas
facet_where
Douglas
facet_where
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facet_where:
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London
facet_where
London
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Australia
facet_where
Australia
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Large Magellanic Cloud
facet_where
Large Magellanic Cloud
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Japan
facet_where
Japan
facet_where
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facet_where:
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France
facet_where
France
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Michigan
facet_where
Michigan
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Spain
facet_where
Spain
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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November 2, 2005
facet_when
November 2, 2005
facet_when
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facet_when_year:
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2005
facet_when_year
2005
facet_when_year
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Image #:
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ssc2006-17a
Image_#
ssc2006-17a
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-ssc2006-17 a
UID
SPD-SPITZ-ssc2006-17 a
UID
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