Andrew Yee[_1_]
January 8th 08, 05:57 AM
Megan Watzke
Chandra X-ray Center, Cambridge, Mass.
617-496-7998
For Release: December 10, 2007
Whirlpool Galaxy (M51): A Classic Beauty
[http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2007/m51/]
M51, whose name comes from being the 51st entry in Charles Messier's
catalog, is considered to be one of the classic examples of a spiral galaxy.
At a distance of about 30 million light years from Earth, it is also one of
the brightest spirals in the night sky. A composite image of M51, also known
as the Whirlpool Galaxy, shows the majesty of its structure in a dramatic
new way through several of NASA's orbiting observatories. X-ray data from
NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory reveals point-like sources (purple) that
are black holes and neutron stars in binary star systems. Chandra also
detects a diffuse glow of hot gas that permeates the space between the
stars. Optical data from the Hubble Space Telescope (green) and infrared
emission from the Spitzer Space Telescope (red) both highlight long lanes in
the spiral arms that consist of stars and gas laced with dust. A view of M51
with the GALEX telescope shows hot, young stars that produce lots of
ultraviolet energy (blue).
The textbook spiral structure is thought be the result of an interaction M51
is experiencing with its close galactic neighbor, NGC 5195, which is seen
just above. Some simulations suggest M51's sharp spiral shape was partially
caused when NGC 5195 passed through its main disk about 500 million years
ago. This gravitational tug of war may also have triggered an increased
level of star formation in M51. The companion galaxy's pull would be
inducing extra starbirth by compressing gas, jump-starting the process by
which stars form.
Chandra X-ray Center, Cambridge, Mass.
617-496-7998
For Release: December 10, 2007
Whirlpool Galaxy (M51): A Classic Beauty
[http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2007/m51/]
M51, whose name comes from being the 51st entry in Charles Messier's
catalog, is considered to be one of the classic examples of a spiral galaxy.
At a distance of about 30 million light years from Earth, it is also one of
the brightest spirals in the night sky. A composite image of M51, also known
as the Whirlpool Galaxy, shows the majesty of its structure in a dramatic
new way through several of NASA's orbiting observatories. X-ray data from
NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory reveals point-like sources (purple) that
are black holes and neutron stars in binary star systems. Chandra also
detects a diffuse glow of hot gas that permeates the space between the
stars. Optical data from the Hubble Space Telescope (green) and infrared
emission from the Spitzer Space Telescope (red) both highlight long lanes in
the spiral arms that consist of stars and gas laced with dust. A view of M51
with the GALEX telescope shows hot, young stars that produce lots of
ultraviolet energy (blue).
The textbook spiral structure is thought be the result of an interaction M51
is experiencing with its close galactic neighbor, NGC 5195, which is seen
just above. Some simulations suggest M51's sharp spiral shape was partially
caused when NGC 5195 passed through its main disk about 500 million years
ago. This gravitational tug of war may also have triggered an increased
level of star formation in M51. The companion galaxy's pull would be
inducing extra starbirth by compressing gas, jump-starting the process by
which stars form.