File talk:Galaxy.ap19.2003.750pix.jpg

Copyright: It appears it may be possible to use this image if merely permission is asked. Wikipedia does not seem to fit the general and default criteria specified, namely: newspapers, and bona fide science journals, including popular science journals.

A request for permission to use the image has been sent September 14, 2006
to the Press Relations office of the European Southern Observatory.
Answer will be reported when received. 

On the press relations page of the ESO (European Southern Observatory): [1], the following is provided indicating permission to copy on that web page:

This is the caption to ESO PR Photos 20a-f/99 . They may be reproduced, if credit is given to the European Southern Observatory.

The photograph in question is numberd ESO PR Photo 20c/99, and apparently has an alternative name ESO 269-57.

Here is the full caption associated with the image:

ESO 269-57 is a spectacular spiral galaxy of symmetrical shape in the southern constellation Centaurus and belongs to a well-known cluster of galaxies seen in this direction. The galaxy received this designation when it was catalogued during the first ESO Survey of the Southern Sky in the 1970's.

PR Photo 20c/99 shows the complex structure of ESO 269-57 , with an inner "ring", of several tightly wound spiral arms, surrounded by two outer ones that appear to split into several branches. Many blue and diffuse objects are visible - most are star-forming regions. The galaxy type is Sa(r). The velocity is just over 3100 km/sec, indicating a distance of about 155 million light-years. It extends over about 4 arcmin in the sky, corresponding to nearly 200,000 light-years across. Many other galaxies are visible in the background.

In this and the other photos, the vertical lines extending from the images of some bright stars result from a "bleeding" effect in the CCD detector where the pixels are completely saturated.

This three-colour composite (BVR) was obtained with VLT ANTU and FORS1 in the morning of March 27, 1999. The full field measures 6.8 x 6.8 arcmin 2 . North is up and East is to the left.

On the general information from the ESO press relation page, here is the specific policy regarding permissions and use of released information and images [2]

Permissions and Credits

All ESO photographs are Copyright © ESO. ESO press photos are clearly marked as ESO pictures. Regarding permission to reproduce ESO images, editors of newspapers and bona-fide science magazines and journals (including popular science magazines) may use these pictures without any reproduction charge, but reference must be always be given to ESO, e.g. by the line "Credit ESO" of "Photo ESO". Reproduction for all other purposes, in printed form or use in electronic media, are subject to individual permission by ESO, to be obtained from the ESO Public Affairs Department.

Yellowdesk 01:48, 15 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I'll note that there has not been any response from the ESO on my copyright inquiry, as of March 15, 2007. -- Yellowdesk 22:11, 16 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]