HOW BIG
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Galaxies

Centaurus A: size, dimension and comparison

The adopted reference is about 60,000 light-years.

reference luminous extent ≈ 60 000 ly

A light-year is a distance: how far light travels in one year. It is used for distances between stars.

An active galaxy crossed by a broad dust lane.

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Centaurus A, interpreted illustration
Interpreted illustration · dimension stated in the fact sheet.

What does this number measure?

The Caldwell 77 entry adopts about 60 000 ly for the galaxy. Its Hubble close-up covers only about 8 500 ly. The immense radio lobes are not included in this comparison.

Compare the stated dimensions

The comparison uses the number in each fact sheet: altitude, height, diameter, length or distance, depending on the reference. Two values in metres do not necessarily describe the same property.

Compare with Whirlpool Galaxy in the explorer →

Source and limitations

Rounded documentary extent. Boundaries are diffuse and depend on the observations and convention used; this is not a distance from Earth.

Original schematic illustration, not a photograph. Shapes, colours and details are interpreted; only the stated dimension is compared.