Intergalactic Collision Imaged Using X-ray Telescope

[n2doc]

In a galaxy far, far away –- about 60 million light years from Earth -– a huge cloud of unfathomably hot gas spotted by NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory tipped astronomers towards an amazing cosmic spectacle – the collision of a dwarf galaxy and one of its much larger brethren. (Photo : (Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Huntingdon Inst. for X-ray Astronomy/G.Garmire, Optical: ESO/VLT))


In a galaxy far, far away, about 60 million light years from Earth, a huge cloud of unfathomably hot gas spotted by NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory tipped astronomers towards an amazing cosmic spectacle -- the collision of a dwarf galaxy and one of its much larger brethren.

While more observation is needed before astronomers can officially confirm what they think they see, the discovery represents the first time such a collision of galaxies has been detected using only X-rays, a feat which could prove to be a significant learning experience which could have implications for understanding how galaxies grow through such collisions.

The dwarf galaxy appears to be crashing into the much larger galaxy NGC 1232. The collision most likely caused a cosmic shock wave -- something like a sonic boom on Earth -- that generated temperatures around 6 million degrees Fahrenheit.

Chanda's X-ray data (evinced by the purple haze in the photo) plus optical light data created the spectacular composite image above. The gas cloud's comet-like appearance is caused by the motion of the dwarf galaxy.

A cluster of very bright stars are at the head of the gas emission. Astronomers suggest the shock wave was so powerful it may have triggered star formation.

more

http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/3497/20130815/intergalactic-collison-imaged-using-x-ray-telescope.htm

[Jackpine Radical]

1. I'm just glad I'm not the one who wrote the insurance policy on those Galaxies!