M83

Caption to PR Photo 41/99: This photo shows the central region of a
beautiful spiral galaxy, Messier 83, as observed with the FORS1
instrument at VLT ANTU. It is based on a composite of three images,
all of which are now available from the ESO Science Data Archive, as
described in this Press Release. The three frames were taken in March
1999 through three different filters: B (wavelength 429 nm;
Full-Width-Half-Maximum (FWHM) 88 nm; exposure time 10 min; here
rendered as blue), R (657 nm; 150 nm; 3 min; green) and I (768 nm; 138
nm; 3 min; red) during a period of 0.8 arcsec average seeing. The
field shown measures about 6.8 x 6.8 arcmin and the images were
recorded in frames of 2048 x 2048 pixels, each measuring 0.2
arcsec. North is up; East is left. Compare also with PR Photo 20/98
(in B/W) of a small area in this galaxy that was obtained with the VLT
Test Camera in June 1998.

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