M83 - Barred Spiral Galaxy in Hydra
Copyright 2005 John Hodge
M83, also known as
the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy, is a "barred spiral". That is, it
is in a class of galaxies that have a bar across the central region with well
defined and dynamic spiral arms. The knots of nebulosity among the spiral
arms are regions of active star birth. The bar structure contains stars
which are of a much older population.
M83 lies at a distance of 15 million light-years.