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Chandra Image of M101
About the Object
- R.A. PositionR.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.14h 03m 13s
- Dec. PositionDec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.+54° 20' 53"
- ConstellationConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.Ursa Major
- DistanceDistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.21.8 million light-years (6.7 megaparsecs)
- DimensionsDimensionsThe physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky.This image is 18 arcminutes (114,000 light-years or 35,000 parsecs) wide.
About the Data
- Data DescriptionData DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.The science team was led by K. Kuntz (Johns Hopkins University). - InstrumentInstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.CXO>ACIS
- Exposure DatesExposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.March 2000 - January 2005
- FiltersFiltersThe camera filters that were used in the science observations.0.45 - 1.00 keV and 1.00 - 2.00 keV
- Object NameObject NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.M101, NGC 4547, The Pinwheel Galaxy
- Object DescriptionObject DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.Face-on Spiral Galaxy
- Release DateFebruary 10, 2009
- Science ReleaseNASA’s Great Observatories Celebrate the International Year of Astronomy with a National Unveiling of Spectacular Images
- CreditsNASA, CXC, and K. Kuntz (JHU)
Pink: 0.45 - 1.00 keV Blue: 1.00 - 2.00 keV
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Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov
