The Central Magnetic Field of the Cigar Galaxy
Explanation:
Are galaxies giant magnets?
Yes, but the
magnetic fields in galaxies are typically much weaker than on
Earth's surface, as well as
more
complex
and harder to measure.
Recently, though, the
HAWC+ instrument onboard the
airborne (747)
SOFIA observatory
has been successful in
detailing distant magnetic fields
by observing
infrared light
polarized by
reflection from dust grains.
Featured here, HAWC+ observations of the
M82, the Cigar galaxy,
show that the central
magnetic field
is
perpendicular
to the disk and parallel to the strong
supergalactic wind.
This
observation bolsters the hypothesis that M82's central magnetic field helps
its wind transport the mass of millions of stars out from the central star-burst
region.
The featured
image shows magnetic field lines superposed on top of an optical light (gray)
and
hydrogen gas (red) image from
Kitt Peak National Observatory,
further combined with
infrared images (yellow) from SOFIA and the
Spitzer Space Telescope.
The Cigar Galaxy is about 12 million
light years
distant and
visible with binoculars towards the constellation of the
Great Bear.
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.
