Centaurus A

Centaurus A (NGC 5128) is the nearest giant radio galaxy, about 12 million light-years away in Centaurus. It is a peculiar elliptical galaxy with a dramatic dark dust lane bisecting its bright body, the result of a past merger with a spiral galaxy. It hosts one of the most powerful active galactic nuclei in the nearby universe.

One of the southern sky's showpiece objects. Visible in binoculars as a bright, round glow. A 6-inch telescope clearly shows the dark dust lane cutting across the galaxy. Best from southern and tropical latitudes in spring and summer evenings.

Discovered by James Dunlop on August 4, 1826 from Australia. It was identified as a strong radio source in 1949 and became one of the first radio galaxies known. Its jets were later detected at radio, X-ray, and optical wavelengths.