X Ray Superbubbles in Galaxy NGC 3079
Explanation:
What created these huge galactic superbubbles?
Two of these
unusual bubbles, each spanning thousands of
light-years, were recently discovered near the center of
spiral galaxy NGC 3079.
The superbubbles,
shown in purple on the image right, are so hot they emit X-rays detected by
NASA's Earth-orbiting
Chandra X-Ray Observatory.
Since the bubbles straddle the center of NGC 3079, a
leading hypothesis is that they were
somehow created by the interaction of the central
supermassive black hole with surrounding gas.
Alternatively, the
superbubbles might have been created primarily by the
energetic winds
from many young and hot stars near that galaxy's center.
The only similar known phenomenon is the
gamma-ray emitting Fermi bubbles
emanating from the center of our Milky Way Galaxy,
discovered 10 years ago in images taken by NASA's
Fermi satellite.
Research into the nature of the
NGC 3079
superbubbles will surely continue,
as well as searches for high-energy superbubbles in other galaxies.
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.
