Explanation: Is our Galaxy this thin? We believe so. Magnificent spiral galaxy
NGC 4565 is likely similar to our own spiral galaxy, but viewed edge-on from far away. Also known as the
Needle Galaxy for its narrow profile, bright
NGC 4565 is a stop on many
telescopic tours of the northern sky as it lies in the faint but well-groomed constellation
Coma Berenices. This
sharp color image reveals the galaxy's bulging central core dominated by light from a population of older, yellowish stars. The core is dramatically cut by obscuring
dust lanes which lace NGC 4565's
thin galactic plane. NGC 4565 lies about 30 million
light-years distant and spans over 100,000 light-years in diameter.
Visible through a small telescope, some
sky enthusiasts consider
NGC 4565 to be a prominent celestial
masterpiece Messier missed.