- GALAXIES
- INFRARED WORLD
- INTERACTING GALAXIES
- MILKY WAY
- STAR BIRTH
- STAR DEATH
- GALAXIES
- INFRARED WORLD
- INTERACTING GALAXIES
- MILKY WAY
- STAR BIRTH
- STAR DEATH
Galaxies
Barred Galaxy NGC 253
![As each slider bar is manipulated, the view transitions from visible light to mid infrared light to near infrared light. In visible light: Dust and bright stars confuse the view in visible light. In mid infrared light: The base population of stars reveal the spiral arms and central bar. In near infrared light: Dust lanes along the spiral arms glow in the mid-infrared.](/assets/sliders/galaxies/barred_galaxy_ngc_253/N253-ESO-Vis-7acd12ca16687a9b0b2cd1420b1fdce1c7b62a1dd73ccc78bebd2a3abb5aa085.jpg)
![As each slider bar is manipulated, the view transitions from visible light to mid infrared light to near infrared light. In visible light: Dust and bright stars confuse the view in visible light. In mid infrared light: The base population of stars reveal the spiral arms and central bar. In near infrared light: Dust lanes along the spiral arms glow in the mid-infrared.](/assets/sliders/galaxies/barred_galaxy_ngc_253/D-NGC253_w3-midIR-601e54928952c83a02d0586f53eabbf9f4e57473f035cdad2638ccca606f4ee4.jpg)
![As each slider bar is manipulated, the view transitions from visible light to mid infrared light to near infrared light. In visible light: Dust and bright stars confuse the view in visible light. In mid infrared light: The base population of stars reveal the spiral arms and central bar. In near infrared light: Dust lanes along the spiral arms glow in the mid-infrared.](/assets/sliders/galaxies/barred_galaxy_ngc_253/C-NGC253_w12-nearIR-e53dc2a90c34069bf624b7e6040f6fcd84bb47200edee3ea1ea2d73528cbbcd8.jpg)
Visible:
Default View
Mid Infrared:
LESS
MORE
Near Infrared:
LESS
MORE
Barred Galaxy NGC 253
Infrared light can be critical for viewing the underlying structure of a galaxy. In NGC 253, the visible-light view is complicated by the viewing angle, dark dust clouds, and scatterings of massive stars. Switching to the near-infrared lets us see the full population of stars more clearly, revealing a bar running through the center of the galaxy. Including mid-infrared also brings out the dust lanes clearly, and even highlights the areas where stars are forming vigorously, particularly in the galaxy's center.
Visible:
Dust and bright stars confuse the view in visible light.
Mid Infrared:
The base population of stars reveal the spiral arms and central bar.
Near Infrared:
Dust lanes along the spiral arms glow in the mid-infrared.
CREDITS:
Visible: ESO. Near-infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA. Mid-infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA.