Twisted Spiral Galaxy NGC 134 (IMAGE)
Caption
Image obtained with ESO's Very Large Telescope of the spiral galaxy observed by the European Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potocnik, when at Paranal. NGC 134 is a barred spiral with its spiral arms loosely wrapped around a bright, bar-shaped central region. The red features lounging along its spiral arms are glowing clouds of hot gas in which stars are forming, so-called HII regions. The galaxy also shows prominent dark lanes of dust across the disc, obscuring part of the galaxy's starlight. The image is a colour composite based on data obtained in the B, V, R, and H-? filters with the FORS2 instrument attached to Antu, UT1 of the VLT. During his stay on Paranal, the Commissioner, together with the observatory staff, prepared the observations of this Galaxy. At night, Janez Poto?nik initiated these observations, and checked the quality of the images as they appeared on the control screens. Because the high-sensitivity detectors used on the VLT measure only the intensity of the light reaching their pixels, the colour information is acquired by taking a sequence of images through different colored filters. Consequently, the commissioner could not immediately see the attached image, but only black-and-white version of it. The final colour processing was done by Haennes Heyer and Henri Boffin, with input from Yuri Beletsky (all ESO).
Credit
VLT/ESO
Usage Restrictions
Publicly released ESO still and motion pictures may be used for non-commercial information or education purposes as well as by print and electronic news media. These images and videos may normally be reproduced without fee, on the following conditions: ESO must be clearly credited as the source of the image material; ESO images may not be used to state or imply the endorsement by ESO or any ESO employee of a commercial product, process or service; ESO disclaims any and all liability arising from the use of the image material. The user shall undertake to hold ESO harmless against any and all such claims; If an image includes an identifiable person, using that image for commercial purposes may infringe that person's right of privacy, and separate permission should be obtained from the individual; If ESO material is to be used in advertising or any commercial promotion, layout and copy must be submitted to ESO beforehand for approval (contact the ESO Public Affairs Department). In such cases, ESO reserves the right to grant the permission only upon payment of a reproduction charge or to deny entirely the granting of the permission; Some images and videos may originate from other sources, and this is indicated in the Copyright notice. For re-use of non-ESO material contact the designated authority; This general permission does not extend to use of the ESO's Emblem, which shall remain protected and may not be used or reproduced without prior and individual written consent of ESO. Owners of external websites wishing to link to the ESO web site may use ESO's Emblem for the link, provided they have obtained prior authorisation from the ESO Public Affairs Department and on the condition that such use is clearly identifiable as a web link; By reproducing ESO still images or broadcasting or copying ESO motion pictures, in part or in full, the user acknowledges the terms on which such use is permitted.
License
Licensed content