Explanation:
Magnificent spiral galaxy
NGC 4565
is viewed edge-on from planet Earth.
Also known as the Needle Galaxy
for its narrow profile, bright NGC 4565 is a stop
on many telescopic tours of the northern sky,
in the faint but well-groomed
constellation Coma
Berenices.
This
sharp, colorful image reveals the galaxy's bulging central core
cut by obscuring dust lanes that lace
NGC 4565's thin galactic plane.
An assortment of other background galaxies is included in
the pretty field of view, with
neighboring galaxy NGC 4562 at the lower right.
NGC 4565 itself lies about 40 million
light-years distant and spans
some 100,000 light-years.
Easily spotted with small telescopes,
sky
enthusiasts consider
NGC 4565 to be a prominent celestial masterpiece
Messier missed.
