The Galactic Center in Stars, Gas, and Magnetism
Explanation:
What's going on near the center of our galaxy?
To help find out, a
newly detailed panorama has been composed that
explores regions
just above and below the
galactic plane in radio and X-ray light.
X-ray light
taken by the orbiting
Chandra Observatory
is shown in orange (hot), green (hotter), and purple (hottest)
and superposed with a highly detailed image in
radio waves,
shown in gray, acquired by the
MeerKAT array.
Interactions are numerous and complex.
Galactic beasts such as
expanding supernova remnants,
hot winds
from newly formed stars, unusually strong and colliding
magnetic fields, and a
central supermassive black hole
are all battling in a space only 1000
light years across.
Thin
bright stripes appear to result from twisting and newly
connecting magnetic fields
in colliding regions, creating an energetic type of inner galactic
space weather
with similarities to that created by our Sun.
Continued
observations and study hold promise to not only
shed
more light
on the history and evolution of our own galaxy -- but all
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.
