Arp 153 (NGC 5128; Centaurus A)
Meade 2045D, StarlightXpress MX716, 20
minutes, 43' x 32'
Arp 152 is the first of the class Disturbed with Interior Absorption. The Atlas note says "Centaurus A radio source." This is a big, beautiful object, even seen visually in a small telescope. It is, however, the southernmost of the Arp Peculiar Galaxies, making it a difficult object for northern observers. Most images and photographs show the central region, a ball of light bisected by spectacular dark lanes, and many observers have no idea how extended this object is. The images above hint at the extended halo in the NE-SW direction but the false color image below makes it more obvious. The false color image shows the same 43' x 32' field that the other images show, but at half scale. For a much deeper image, go to David Malin's Deep Galaxies Images List on the Links page.
