Beautiful color CCD image of nearly edge-on spiral galaxy M98, in constellation
Coma Berenices, is a more prominent member of the
Virgo Cluster of Galaxies. As can be seen in this image,
it contains a great deal of dust, which reddens the light of the small but bright
central nucleus: some new star formation regions show up as blue knots. Note that
in astronomical parlance, "reddening" makes the nucleus appear noticeably orange.
This picture was taken in February 1996 at the
0.9-m telescope of
Kitt Peak National Observatory.
Credit: AURA/NOAO/NSF
Edge-on spiral galaxy M98 as photographed by Bill Keel with the 36-inch (0.9-m) Crossley reflector of Lick Observatory.
Last Modification: 23 May 1998