NGC 5128, better known as Centaurus A, was discovered by Jamas Dunlop and was included in his 1827 catalog. Sir John Herschel described the galaxy in his 1849 "Outlines of Astronomy" as "two semi-ovals of elliptically formed nebula appearing to be cut asunder and separated by a broad obscure band parallel to the larger axis of the nebula, in the midst of which a faint streak of light parallel to the sides of the cut appears." Modern astronomy has shown the band to be due to dust that almost completely hides the centre of the galaxy.
| RA | DEC | MAGNITUDE | DIAMETER | DISTANCE |
| 13 25.5 | -43 01 | 6.7 | 17 x 13 ARC MIN | 16,000,000 LY |
This image was created by median combining 9 x 60 second unfiltered images taken using a remotely controlled telescope in Australia - while sitting in my study in Daventry, England.
Martin Nicholson - Daventry, United Kingdom.
This page was last updated on February 3rd 2011.