Starburst Galaxy M94
Credit & Copyright: Hillary Mathis & N.A.Sharp
(NOAO),
AURA,
NSF
Explanation:
What could cause the center of
M94 to be so bright?
Spiral galaxy
M94 has a ring of newly formed stars surrounding its nucleus,
giving it not only an unusual appearance but also
a strong interior glow.
A
leading
progenitor hypothesis
holds that an elongated
knot of stars known as a
bar rotates in M94
and has generated a burst of star formation in the
form of an outward moving ring.
M94,
pictured above digitally sharpened, spans about 30 000
light years, lies about 15 million light years away,
and can be seen with a
small telescope toward the
constellation of
Canes Venatici.
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.
