M51: X Rays from the Whirlpool
Explanation:
Fresh from
yesterday's episode,
a popular pair of interacting galaxies
known as
the
Whirlpool debut here beyond
the realm of visible
light -- imaged at high energies by the orbiting Chandra X-ray
Observatory.
Still turning in a remarkable performance, over 80 glitering
x-ray stars are present in
the
Chandra image data from the region.
The number of
luminous x-ray
sources, likely neutron star and black hole
binary
systems within the confines of M51, is unusually high
for normal spiral or elliptical galaxies and suggests this cosmic
whirlpool has experienced
intense
bursts of massive star formation.
The bright cores of both galaxies, NGC 5194 and NGC 5195
(right and left respectively), also exhibit high-energy
activity in this false-color x-ray picture showing a diffuse
glow from multi-million degree gas.
An
expanded view of the region near the core of NGC 5194
reveals x-rays
from a supernova remnant, the debris from
a spectacular
stellar explosion,
first detected by
earthbound astronomers in 1994.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
