The spectacular galaxy superposition NGC 3314 in the Hydra I cluster
(Abell 1060), in a color-composite image from CCD data obtained
by W. Keel at the Cerro Tololo 1.5-meter telescope. A late-type
spiral is projected almost centrally against an earlier-type
background galaxy. The effects of absorption in the spiral arms of
the foreground galaxy are unusually plain, showing that spiral features
may be defined as much by absorption as starlight in some galaxies.
We later got a much improved image with HST, shown here. Many details appear as if from nowhere... For more details, see my dust research page, or the May 2000 Hubble Heritage release.
Last changes: July 2002 © 1999-2002