Andrew Yee
September 1st 05, 02:00 AM
Gemini Observatory
Hilo, Hawaii
Contact:
Peter Michaud
Desk: 808/974-2510
Friday, 26 August 2005
A Chinese Dragon and a Knotted Galactic Embrace
The Gemini Observatory released a pair of images today that capture the
dynamics of two very different interactions in space. One is a cold, dark
dust cloud that resembles an ethereal-looking Chinese dragon. The other
shows a distant duo of galaxies locked in a knot-like embrace that could
portend the long-term future of our own Milky Way galaxy.
The processes shown in these views occur on a tremendous range of size
scales. NGC 6559 is a relatively small, nearby dust cloud in our Milky Way
galaxy that measures about seven light-years across, while NGC 520
features two completely entwined galaxies that stretch across 150,000
light-years. While both images hint at how dynamic and active these
objects can be, their evolution occurs on astronomical timescales.
According to Ian Robson, Director of the UK's Astronomy Technology Center,
"If we could see either of these objects as an extreme time-lapse movie
made over millions of years, the galaxy pair would dance in a graceful
orbital embrace that is likely similar to the fate between our Milky Way
and the great Andromeda Galaxy, while the dusty cloud would probably
resemble waving smoke from an extinguished candle."
Together, these Gemini images illustrate another point about the universe:
it's dusty. The main features of NGC 6559 that lend this nebula its
Chinese dragon appearance are dark clouds of backlit dust. The merging
galaxies also show a prominent dust lane running diagonally across the
image. In both cases this dust is visible because it blocks the light from
behind it much like a cloud obscures sunlight here on Earth.
The two images were selected based on observations made during the first
half of 2005 at each of the twin Gemini telescopes.
"I coordinated observations in Chile when the dragon-like images of NGC
6559 were obtained," said Gemini South Astronomer Rodrigo Carrasco. "I
could tell this was going to make a fantastic color image with lots of
details never resolved before in this cloud of dust. Other astronomers
will appreciate this data now that it is in the Gemini Data Archive."
Gemini North on Mauna Kea captured the image of NGC 520, showing two
interacting galaxies against a backdrop of dimmer much more distant
galaxies. Gemini Astronomer Kathy Roth oversaw the observations and shared
her reactions. "Watching images like these come off the telescope is
always a thrill. It is very satisfying to have everything working
perfectly and to be able to take advantage of the great conditions on
Mauna Kea," she said. "This particular image not only makes a pretty
picture but I expect will it be useful to astronomers who model
interacting galaxies and how these interactions trigger star formation."
The pair of images were obtained using the Gemini Multi-Object
Spectrograph (GMOS). It provides high-resolution imaging on both of the
twin Gemini 8-meter telescopes. The observations are part of the ongoing
Gemini Legacy Imaging program that shares striking views of the universe
made possible with the new generation of large ground-based telescopes.
Travis Rector of the University of Alaska combined the raw data to create
the color images. Additional technical and background information and
full-resolution image downloads are provided at
http://www.gemini.edu/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=150&Itemid=42&limit=1&limitstart=1
Hilo, Hawaii
Contact:
Peter Michaud
Desk: 808/974-2510
Friday, 26 August 2005
A Chinese Dragon and a Knotted Galactic Embrace
The Gemini Observatory released a pair of images today that capture the
dynamics of two very different interactions in space. One is a cold, dark
dust cloud that resembles an ethereal-looking Chinese dragon. The other
shows a distant duo of galaxies locked in a knot-like embrace that could
portend the long-term future of our own Milky Way galaxy.
The processes shown in these views occur on a tremendous range of size
scales. NGC 6559 is a relatively small, nearby dust cloud in our Milky Way
galaxy that measures about seven light-years across, while NGC 520
features two completely entwined galaxies that stretch across 150,000
light-years. While both images hint at how dynamic and active these
objects can be, their evolution occurs on astronomical timescales.
According to Ian Robson, Director of the UK's Astronomy Technology Center,
"If we could see either of these objects as an extreme time-lapse movie
made over millions of years, the galaxy pair would dance in a graceful
orbital embrace that is likely similar to the fate between our Milky Way
and the great Andromeda Galaxy, while the dusty cloud would probably
resemble waving smoke from an extinguished candle."
Together, these Gemini images illustrate another point about the universe:
it's dusty. The main features of NGC 6559 that lend this nebula its
Chinese dragon appearance are dark clouds of backlit dust. The merging
galaxies also show a prominent dust lane running diagonally across the
image. In both cases this dust is visible because it blocks the light from
behind it much like a cloud obscures sunlight here on Earth.
The two images were selected based on observations made during the first
half of 2005 at each of the twin Gemini telescopes.
"I coordinated observations in Chile when the dragon-like images of NGC
6559 were obtained," said Gemini South Astronomer Rodrigo Carrasco. "I
could tell this was going to make a fantastic color image with lots of
details never resolved before in this cloud of dust. Other astronomers
will appreciate this data now that it is in the Gemini Data Archive."
Gemini North on Mauna Kea captured the image of NGC 520, showing two
interacting galaxies against a backdrop of dimmer much more distant
galaxies. Gemini Astronomer Kathy Roth oversaw the observations and shared
her reactions. "Watching images like these come off the telescope is
always a thrill. It is very satisfying to have everything working
perfectly and to be able to take advantage of the great conditions on
Mauna Kea," she said. "This particular image not only makes a pretty
picture but I expect will it be useful to astronomers who model
interacting galaxies and how these interactions trigger star formation."
The pair of images were obtained using the Gemini Multi-Object
Spectrograph (GMOS). It provides high-resolution imaging on both of the
twin Gemini 8-meter telescopes. The observations are part of the ongoing
Gemini Legacy Imaging program that shares striking views of the universe
made possible with the new generation of large ground-based telescopes.
Travis Rector of the University of Alaska combined the raw data to create
the color images. Additional technical and background information and
full-resolution image downloads are provided at
http://www.gemini.edu/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=150&Itemid=42&limit=1&limitstart=1