M83, also known as the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy, is a barred spiral galaxy located about 15 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra. Renowned for its beautiful spiral arms and bright core, M83 is one of the most active and well-studied galaxies in the nearby universe. Its prominent spiral structure is marked by vibrant regions of star formation and intricate dust lanes, making it a favorite target for both amateur and professional astronomers.

Recent deep-sky observations have revealed an extensive outer halo and star stream surrounding M83, indicative of past interactions and mergers with smaller galaxies. These faint structures are remnants of tidal interactions, providing clues about the galaxy's evolutionary history. The halo contains globular clusters and older stars, while the star streams trace the paths of disrupted satellite galaxies. Studying these features helps astronomers understand the processes of galactic growth and evolution in the cosmos.

The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy, also known as Messier 83 or M83, is a striking barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Hydra. Situated approximately 15 million light-years away from Earth, M83 is one of the closest and brightest spiral galaxies visible from the Southern Hemisphere. Its distinctive spiral arms, adorned with bright clusters of young stars and nebulae, make it a captivating subject for astronomers and astrophotographers alike.

M83 is a hotbed of stellar activity, with ongoing star formation occurring within its spiral arms. It is home to numerous star clusters, nebulae, and regions of intense starbirth, indicating a vigorous cycle of stellar birth and death. Studying M83 provides astronomers with valuable insights into the processes driving galaxy evolution and the formation of stars. Additionally, M83 has been the site of several supernova explosions, further adding to its allure for astronomers seeking to understand the life cycles of stars and galaxies.

Image Description and Details : From ATRIA observatory with DeepSkyChile in Chile: ATRIA Team composed of 6 members : Olivier, Fabien , Frédéric . David , Julien , and myself ;-) Total exposure : 38h09' Red 48 subs@420s -15°C gain high Green 22 subs@300s -15°C gain high Blue 23 subs@300s -15°C gain high Light 576 subs@180s -15°C, gain high

Copyright: Arnaud PEEL

One of the highlights of the Southern sky, M83 is often referred to as the Southern Pinwheel. It is a colorful barred spiral starburst galaxy located only 15 million light years away in Hydra.

M83 has an unusual double nucleus and houses a super massive black hole at its center apparently surrounded by an asymmetric disc of stars. It has also been the home of at least six observed supernovae and nearly 300 supernovae remnants have been identified.

Imaged in LRGB and H alpha on our PlaneWave CDK 1000 at Observatorio El Sauce, Chile.

Copyright: Mike Selby and Mark Hanson

M83 is a barred spiral galaxy located 15.21 million light years from Earth in the southern constellation Hydra. With a diameter of about 55,000 light years, it is roughly half the size of the Milky Way. M83 is one of the nearest and brightest barred spirals in the sky.
One interesting feature of M83 is the high number of supernova's observed during the last century.
Newer generations of stars in M83 form mainly in clusters on the edges of the dark, spiraling dust lanes. These bright, young stellar groupings are only a few million years old and produce massive amounts of ultraviolet light. That light is absorbed by the surrounding diffuse gas clouds, causing them to glow in pinkish hydrogen light.
Imaged in LRGB and H alpha on our CDK 1000 at El Sauce (Obstech) in the Atacama Desert in Chile.
Image Processing: Roberto Colombari and Mike Selby
System control: Voyager by Leonardo Orazi


COPYRIGHT: [Mike Shelby][1]

Another nice project made with Olivier Désormières from the SADR Team (acquisition Arnaud Peel and Olivier Désormières, processing Arnaud Peel): a complete new version with new RGB in bin 1x1 this time: I tried to keep as much as possible the faint details in the Hapha globules and enhanced the spiralSo thanks a lot to Olivier for the acquisition of a great Luminance and RGB with the Sadr association setup , Newton 14'' in Chile.I select the best FWHM subs for the luminance.60s subs were made not to burn the center of the galaxy.Red 20 subs@300s -20°C bin 1 gain highBlue 20 subs@300s -20°C bin 1 gain highGreen 20 subs@300s -20°C bin 1 gain highLight 30 subs@60s -20°C, gain highLight 39 subs@300s -20°C, gain highLight 81 subs@600s -20°C, gain highHalpha 45 subs@300s -20°C, gain highTotal exposure : 26h05

Copyright: Arnaud Peel

This beautiful image captures thousands of individual stars, star clusters and hundreds of supernova remnants in the spiral galaxy known as M83.