NGC 2841: Galactic Chimneys Turn Up the Heat (Forwarded)

Megan Watzke
Chandra X-ray Observatory Center
617.496.7998

March 6, 2006

NGC 2841: Galactic Chimneys Turn Up the Heat
[http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2006/n2841/]

This X-ray/optical composite image of the large spiral galaxy NGC 2841
shows multimillion degree gas (blue/X-ray) rising above the disk of stars
and cooler gas (gray/optical).

The rapid outflows of gas from giant stars, and supernova explosions in
the disk of a galaxy create huge shells or bubbles of hot gas that expand
rapidly and rise above the disk like plumes of smoke from a chimney.
Chandra's image of NGC 2841 provides direct evidence for this process,
which pumps energy into the thin gaseous halo that surrounds the galaxy.
Galactic chimneys also spread hot, metal enriched gas away from the disk
of the galaxy into the halo.

Scale: Image is 5.75 arcmin across.

Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/U. Mass/Q.D.Wang; Optical: NOAO/KPNO