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Collection:
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NASA Planetary Photo Journal Collection
Collection
NASA Planetary Photo Journal Collection
Collection
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Title:
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Amazing Andromeda in Red
Title
Amazing Andromeda in Red
Title
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Original Caption Released with Image:
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Figure 1
Dust in Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured this stunning infrared view of the famous galaxy Messier 31, also known as Andromeda. Spitzer's 24-micron mosaic (main image) is the sharpest image ever taken of the dust in a spiral galaxy, other than our Milky Way. Asymmetrical features are seen in the prominent ring of star formation, which appears to be split into two pieces, forming the hole to the lower right. These features may have been caused by interactions with satellite galaxies around Andromeda as they plunged through its disk.
At optical wavelengths, the center of the galaxy is dominated by a large bulge. This bulge is far less pronounced in the Spitzer 24-micron infrared image, allowing us to see the delicate tracings of spiral arms in the inner region that reach into the center of the galaxy. One sees the scattering of stars within Andromeda, but only select stars that are wrapped in envelopes of dust light up at infrared wavelengths.
The multi-wavelength view of Andromeda (figure 2) combines images taken at 24 microns (blue), 70 microns (green), and 160 microns (red). Use of all three bands from the multiband imaging photometer allows the astronomers to measure the temperature of the dust by its color. The warmest dust is brightest at 24 microns, while the coolest is most evident at 160 microns. The blue/white areas have the hottest dust, as seen in the bulge and in the star-forming areas along the arms. The cooler dust floating in the ring and arms are the redder regions.
This is a dramatic contrast to the traditional view at visible wavelengths (figure 3), which shows the starlight instead of the dust. The center of the galaxy in this optical view is dominated by a large bulge that overwhelms the inner spirals seen in dust. The dust lanes are faintly visible in places, but only where they can be seen in silhouette against background stars.
The data were taken on August 25, 2004, the one-year anniversary of the launch of the space telescope. The observations have been transformed into this remarkable gift from Spitzer ? the most detailed infrared image of the spectacular galaxy to date.
Original_Caption_Rel eased_with_Image
Figure 1
Dust in Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured this stunning infrared view of the famous galaxy Messier 31, also known as Andromeda. Spitzer's 24-micron mosaic (main image) is the sharpest image ever taken of the dust in a spiral galaxy, other than our Milky Way. Asymmetrical features are seen in the prominent ring of star formation, which appears to be split into two pieces, forming the hole to the lower right. These features may have been caused by interactions with satellite galaxies around Andromeda as they plunged through its disk.
At optical wavelengths, the center of the galaxy is dominated by a large bulge. This bulge is far less pronounced in the Spitzer 24-micron infrared image, allowing us to see the delicate tracings of spiral arms in the inner region that reach into the center of the galaxy. One sees the scattering of stars within Andromeda, but only select stars that are wrapped in envelopes of dust light up at infrared wavelengths.
The multi-wavelength view of Andromeda (figure 2) combines images taken at 24 microns (blue), 70 microns (green), and 160 microns (red). Use of all three bands from the multiband imaging photometer allows the astronomers to measure the temperature of the dust by its color. The warmest dust is brightest at 24 microns, while the coolest is most evident at 160 microns. The blue/white areas have the hottest dust, as seen in the bulge and in the star-forming areas along the arms. The cooler dust floating in the ring and arms are the redder regions.
This is a dramatic contrast to the traditional view at visible wavelengths (figure 3), which shows the starlight instead of the dust. The center of the galaxy in this optical view is dominated by a large bulge that overwhelms the inner spirals seen in dust. The dust lanes are faintly visible in places, but only where they can be seen in silhouette against background stars.
The data were taken on August 25, 2004, the one-year anniversary of the launch of the space telescope. The observations have been transformed into this remarkable gift from Spitzer ? the most detailed infrared image of the spectacular galaxy to date.
Original Caption Released with Image
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Image Credit:
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NASA/JPL-Caltech/Uni v. of Ariz.
Figure 3: NOAO/AURA/NSF
Image_Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Uni v. of Ariz.
Figure 3: NOAO/AURA/NSF
Image Credit
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Produced By:
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California Institute of Technology
Produced_By
California Institute of Technology
Produced By
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Mission:
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Spitzer Space Telescope (SST)
Mission
Spitzer Space Telescope (SST)
Mission
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Spacecraft:
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Spitzer Space Telescope (SST)
Spacecraft
Spitzer Space Telescope (SST)
Spacecraft
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Target Name:
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M31
Target_Name
M31
Target Name
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Instrument:
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Multiband Imaging Photometer for SIRTF (MIPS)
Instrument
Multiband Imaging Photometer for SIRTF (MIPS)
Instrument
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Product Size:
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8193 samples x 2410 lines
Product_Size
8193 samples x 2410 lines
Product Size
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facet_what:
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SST
facet_what
SST
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Spitzer Space Telescope
facet_what
Spitzer Space Telescope
facet_what
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facet_what:
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MIPS
facet_what
MIPS
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Aura
facet_what
Aura
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Andromeda
facet_what
Andromeda
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Multiband Imaging Photometer for SIRTF
facet_what
Multiband Imaging Photometer for SIRTF
facet_what
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facet_what:
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SIRTF
facet_what
SIRTF
facet_what
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facet_where:
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California
facet_where
California
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Andromeda Galaxy
facet_where
Andromeda Galaxy
facet_where
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facet_where:
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M31
facet_where
M31
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
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facet_when:
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August 25, 2004
facet_when
August 25, 2004
facet_when
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facet_when_year:
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2004
facet_when_year
2004
facet_when_year
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Image #:
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PIA03031
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UID:
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SPD-PHOTJ-PIA03031
UID
SPD-PHOTJ-PIA03031
UID
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orignial url:
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orignial_url
orignial url
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