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A thousand colors, one galaxy: Astronomers reveal a cosmic masterpiece

Astronomers have produced the most detailed map yet of the Sculptor Galaxy, revealing hundreds of previously unseen celestial features in stunning color and resolution. By combining over 50 hours of observations using the European Southern Observatory s Very Large Telescope, scientists captured a full-spectrum portrait that unravels the galaxy s stellar makeup in thousands of colors. This revolutionary technique offers an unprecedented look at the age, composition, and motion of stars and gas across the galaxy s vast 65,000-light-year span. Among the highlights are 500 newly identified planetary nebulae, glowing remnants of dying stars, which help pinpoint the galaxy s distance and open new windows into galactic evolution.

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