NGC 5128 is one of the most peculiar galaxies in the sky. It is the nearest active galaxy to the Milky Way and a strong source of radio emissions. It is also cataloged as radio source Centaurus A.

It is bisected by a dark lane that is considered the dust remnant of a smaller spiral galaxy that was cannibalized by the larger elliptical galaxy. The collision resulted in a burst of star formation.

NGC 5128, classified as a type S0 pec, may be an intermediate galaxy type between a spiral and elliptical, or its bizarre morphology may be a result of the merger.

It is located some 10 million to 16 million light-years away in the constellation of Centaurus, 4 degrees north of NGC 5139, the Omega Centauri globular cluster.

NGC 5128 is one of the brightest galaxies in the sky shining at magnitude 6.8 and subtending an apparent size of 27 x 20 arcminutes.

Observations with Hubble's NICMOS camera (Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer) imply the existence of a gigantic black hole in an active galactic nucleus equivalent to 55 million solar masses inside of NGC 5128. This active nucleus ejects a jet of x-rays and radio waves at relativistic speeds.

NGC 5128 was discovered by James Dunlop in 1826.

North is to the top in the above image.

NGC 5128 Catalogs: NGC 5128, Arp 153, PGC 46957 Common Name: Centaurus A, Hamburger Galaxy Object Type: S0 pec Galaxy Magnitude: 6.6v Size: 25.7' x 20' Constellation: Centaurus Image Field Centered At: RA: 13h 25m 28s Dec: -43° 00' 18"