Hidden Galaxy Photographed by Peeping Space Telescope

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Hidden Galaxy Photographed by Peeping Space Telescope
A leggy cosmic creature, actually the "hiding galaxy" IC 342, comes out of hiding in this new infrared view from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE. Full Story. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA)

A spiral galaxy that is usually shrouded behind our ownMilky Way has come out of hiding in a new infrared image from NASA's latestspace telescope.

The new photo reveals a leggy cosmic apparition called IC342, sometimes known as the "hidden galaxy," and was snapped by the Wide-fieldInfrared Survey Explorer (WISE). The WISE space telescope is mapping the sky inunprecedented detail to find previously unseenasteroids and other objects.

Stargazers and professional astronomers typically have a difficulttime seeing this galaxy through the Milky Way's bright band of stars, dust andgas, but WISE's infraredvision penetrates through this veil, offering a crisp view.

NASA launched the WISE space telescope in December 2009. Itis expected to complete its initial survey of the sky in the first six monthsof its mission.

Space.com Staff
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