|
|
Three Faces of Andromeda
| Title |
Three Faces of Andromeda |
| Description |
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured stunning infrared views of the famous Andromeda galaxy to reveal insights that were only hinted at in visible light. Spitzer's 24-micron mosaic (top panel) is the sharpest image ever taken of the dust in another spiral galaxy. This is possible because Andromeda is a close neighbor to the Milky Way at a mere 2.5 million light-years away. The Spitzer multiband imaging photometer's 24-micron detector recorded 11,000 separate snapshots to create this new comprehensive picture. Asymmetrical features are seen in the prominent ring of star formation. The ring 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 plunge through its disk. Spitzer also reveals delicate tracings of spiral arms within this ring that reach into the very center of the galaxy. One sees a scattering of stars within Andromeda, but only select stars that are wrapped in envelopes of dust light up at infrared wavelengths. This is a dramatic contrast to the traditional view at visible wavelengths (lower left panel), which shows the starlight instead of the dust. The center of the galaxy in this 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 multi-wavelength view of Andromeda (lower right panel) combines images taken at 24 microns (blue), 70 microns (green), and 160 microns (red). Using all three bands from the multiband imaging photometer allows 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 further out in the ring and arms are in the redder regions. 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. |
|
Three Faces of Andromeda
| Title |
Three Faces of Andromeda |
| Description |
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured stunning infrared views of the famous Andromeda galaxy to reveal insights that were only hinted at in visible light. Spitzer's 24-micron mosaic (top panel) is the sharpest image ever taken of the dust in another spiral galaxy. This is possible because Andromeda is a close neighbor to the Milky Way at a mere 2.5 million light-years away. The Spitzer multiband imaging photometer's 24-micron detector recorded 11,000 separate snapshots to create this new comprehensive picture. Asymmetrical features are seen in the prominent ring of star formation. The ring 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 plunge through its disk. Spitzer also reveals delicate tracings of spiral arms within this ring that reach into the very center of the galaxy. One sees a scattering of stars within Andromeda, but only select stars that are wrapped in envelopes of dust light up at infrared wavelengths. This is a dramatic contrast to the traditional view at visible wavelengths (lower left panel), which shows the starlight instead of the dust. The center of the galaxy in this 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 multi-wavelength view of Andromeda (lower right panel) combines images taken at 24 microns (blue), 70 microns (green), and 160 microns (red). Using all three bands from the multiband imaging photometer allows 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 further out in the ring and arms are in the redder regions. 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. |
|
Three Faces of Andromeda
| Title |
Three Faces of Andromeda |
| Description |
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured stunning infrared views of the famous Andromeda galaxy to reveal insights that were only hinted at in visible light. Spitzer's 24-micron mosaic (top panel) is the sharpest image ever taken of the dust in another spiral galaxy. This is possible because Andromeda is a close neighbor to the Milky Way at a mere 2.5 million light-years away. The Spitzer multiband imaging photometer's 24-micron detector recorded 11,000 separate snapshots to create this new comprehensive picture. Asymmetrical features are seen in the prominent ring of star formation. The ring 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 plunge through its disk. Spitzer also reveals delicate tracings of spiral arms within this ring that reach into the very center of the galaxy. One sees a scattering of stars within Andromeda, but only select stars that are wrapped in envelopes of dust light up at infrared wavelengths. This is a dramatic contrast to the traditional view at visible wavelengths (lower left panel), which shows the starlight instead of the dust. The center of the galaxy in this 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 multi-wavelength view of Andromeda (lower right panel) combines images taken at 24 microns (blue), 70 microns (green), and 160 microns (red). Using all three bands from the multiband imaging photometer allows 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 further out in the ring and arms are in the redder regions. 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. |
|
Three Faces of Andromeda
| Title |
Three Faces of Andromeda |
| Description |
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured stunning infrared views of the famous Andromeda galaxy to reveal insights that were only hinted at in visible light. Spitzer's 24-micron mosaic (top panel) is the sharpest image ever taken of the dust in another spiral galaxy. This is possible because Andromeda is a close neighbor to the Milky Way at a mere 2.5 million light-years away. The Spitzer multiband imaging photometer's 24-micron detector recorded 11,000 separate snapshots to create this new comprehensive picture. Asymmetrical features are seen in the prominent ring of star formation. The ring 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 plunge through its disk. Spitzer also reveals delicate tracings of spiral arms within this ring that reach into the very center of the galaxy. One sees a scattering of stars within Andromeda, but only select stars that are wrapped in envelopes of dust light up at infrared wavelengths. This is a dramatic contrast to the traditional view at visible wavelengths (lower left panel), which shows the starlight instead of the dust. The center of the galaxy in this 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 multi-wavelength view of Andromeda (lower right panel) combines images taken at 24 microns (blue), 70 microns (green), and 160 microns (red). Using all three bands from the multiband imaging photometer allows 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 further out in the ring and arms are in the redder regions. 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. |
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Optical Image of Andromeda G
…
| Name |
Optical Image of Andromeda Galaxy (M31) |
|
Kitt Peak Optical Image of M
…
| Name |
Kitt Peak Optical Image of M33 |
|
Andromeda Galaxy (M31) Anima
…
| Name |
Andromeda Galaxy (M31) Animations |
|
Andromeda Galaxy (M31): A Ne
…
| Name |
Andromeda Galaxy (M31): A New Look at a Close Neighbor |
| Category |
Normal Galaxies & Starburst Galaxies, Supernovas & Supernova Remnants |
| Release Date |
May 22, 2007 |
|
NOAO Optical & Chandra X-ray
…
| Name |
NOAO Optical & Chandra X-ray Image of Andromeda Galaxy (M31) |
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Hubble Discovers Black Holes
…
| Title |
Hubble Discovers Black Holes in Unexpected Places |
| General Information |
What is a Space Science Update? Major Hubble discoveries on NASA television ... Astronomers explain their Hubble discoveries at a press conference, called a Space Science Update (SSU), broadcast on NASA television. The SSU includes a question and answer session with members of the media. Back to top [ #top ] |
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Hubble Discovers Black Holes
…
| Title |
Hubble Discovers Black Holes in Unexpected Places |
| General Information |
What is a Space Science Update? Major Hubble discoveries on NASA television ... Astronomers explain their Hubble discoveries at a press conference, called a Space Science Update (SSU), broadcast on NASA television. The SSU includes a question and answer session with members of the media. Back to top [ #top ] |
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Hubble Discovers Black Holes
…
| Title |
Hubble Discovers Black Holes in Unexpected Places |
| General Information |
What is a Space Science Update? Major Hubble discoveries on NASA television ... Astronomers explain their Hubble discoveries at a press conference, called a Space Science Update (SSU), broadcast on NASA television. The SSU includes a question and answer session with members of the media. Back to top [ #top ] |
|
Hubble Discovers Black Holes
…
| Title |
Hubble Discovers Black Holes in Unexpected Places |
| General Information |
What is a Space Science Update? Major Hubble discoveries on NASA television ... Astronomers explain their Hubble discoveries at a press conference, called a Space Science Update (SSU), broadcast on NASA television. The SSU includes a question and answer session with members of the media. Back to top [ #top ] |
|
Hubble Discovers Black Holes
…
| Title |
Hubble Discovers Black Holes in Unexpected Places |
| General Information |
What is a Space Science Update? Major Hubble discoveries on NASA television ... Astronomers explain their Hubble discoveries at a press conference, called a Space Science Update (SSU), broadcast on NASA television. The SSU includes a question and answer session with members of the media. Back to top [ #top ] |
|
Hubble Discovers Black Holes
…
| Title |
Hubble Discovers Black Holes in Unexpected Places |
| General Information |
What is a Space Science Update? Major Hubble discoveries on NASA television ... Astronomers explain their Hubble discoveries at a press conference, called a Space Science Update (SSU), broadcast on NASA television. The SSU includes a question and answer session with members of the media. Back to top [ #top ] |
|
Hubble Discovers Black Holes
…
| Title |
Hubble Discovers Black Holes in Unexpected Places |
| General Information |
What is a Space Science Update? Major Hubble discoveries on NASA television ... Astronomers explain their Hubble discoveries at a press conference, called a Space Science Update (SSU), broadcast on NASA television. The SSU includes a question and answer session with members of the media. Back to top [ #top ] |
|
Hubble Discovers Black Holes
…
| Title |
Hubble Discovers Black Holes in Unexpected Places |
| General Information |
What is a Space Science Update? Major Hubble discoveries on NASA television ... Astronomers explain their Hubble discoveries at a press conference, called a Space Science Update (SSU), broadcast on NASA television. The SSU includes a question and answer session with members of the media. Back to top [ #top ] |
|
Hubble Discovers Black Holes
…
| Title |
Hubble Discovers Black Holes in Unexpected Places |
| General Information |
What is a Space Science Update? Major Hubble discoveries on NASA television ... Astronomers explain their Hubble discoveries at a press conference, called a Space Science Update (SSU), broadcast on NASA television. The SSU includes a question and answer session with members of the media. Back to top [ #top ] |
|
Hubble Discovers Black Holes
…
| Title |
Hubble Discovers Black Holes in Unexpected Places |
| General Information |
What is a Space Science Update? Major Hubble discoveries on NASA television ... Astronomers explain their Hubble discoveries at a press conference, called a Space Science Update (SSU), broadcast on NASA television. The SSU includes a question and answer session with members of the media. Back to top [ #top ] |
|
Firestorm of Star Birth Seen
…
| Title |
Firestorm of Star Birth Seen in a Local Galaxy |
| General Information |
What is Hubble Heritage? A monthly showcase of new and archival Hubble images. Go to the Heritage site. Back to top [ #top ] |
|
Hubble Finds Mysterious Disk
…
| Title |
Hubble Finds Mysterious Disk of Blue Stars Around Black Hole |
|
Hubble Finds Mysterious Disk
…
| Title |
Hubble Finds Mysterious Disk of Blue Stars Around Black Hole |
|
Hubble Finds Mysterious Disk
…
| Title |
Hubble Finds Mysterious Disk of Blue Stars Around Black Hole |
|
Hubble Finds Mysterious Disk
…
| Title |
Hubble Finds Mysterious Disk of Blue Stars Around Black Hole |
|
Hubble Finds Mysterious Disk
…
| Title |
Hubble Finds Mysterious Disk of Blue Stars Around Black Hole |
|
Hubble Finds Mysterious Disk
…
| Title |
Hubble Finds Mysterious Disk of Blue Stars Around Black Hole |
|
Hubble Finds Mysterious Disk
…
| Title |
Hubble Finds Mysterious Disk of Blue Stars Around Black Hole |
|
Hubble Finds Mysterious Disk
…
| Title |
Hubble Finds Mysterious Disk of Blue Stars Around Black Hole |
|
Hubble Finds Mysterious Disk
…
| Title |
Hubble Finds Mysterious Disk of Blue Stars Around Black Hole |
|
Nearby Spiral M33
| Title |
Nearby Spiral M33 |
| Explanation |
Spiral galaxy [ http://www.seds.org/messier/spir.html ] M33 is a mid-sized member of our Local Group of Galaxies [ http://www.seds.org/messier/more/local.html ]. M33 [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980721.html ] is also called the Triangulum Galaxy [ http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m033.html ] for the constellation [ http://www.astronomical.org/constellations/tri.html ] in which it resides. About four times smaller (in radius) than our Milky Way Galaxy [ http://www.star.le.ac.uk/edu/mway/ ] and the Andromeda Galaxy [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap021021.html ] (M31), it is much larger than the many of the local dwarf spheroidal [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap991003.html ] galaxies. M33 [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960708.html ]'s proximity to M31 [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010917.html ] causes it to be thought by some to be a satellite galaxy of this more massive galaxy. M33 [ http://sirtf.caltech.edu/Education/Messier/m33.html ]'s proximity to our Milky Way Galaxy [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/milky_way.html ] causes it to appear more than twice the angular size of the Full Moon [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010218.html ], and be visible with a good pair of binoculars. The above high-resolution image [ http://www.noao.edu/image_gallery/html/im0775.html ] from the 0.90-m telescope [ http://www.noao.edu/0.9m/manual.html ] at Kitt Peak National Observatory [ http://www.noao.edu/kpno/ ] is a four-color composite. |
|
NGC 6946: The Fireworks Gala
…
| Title |
NGC 6946: The Fireworks Galaxy |
| Explanation |
Why is this galaxy so active? Nearby spiral galaxy NGC 6946 [ http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/n6946.html ] is undergoing a tremendous burst of star formation with no obvious cause. In many cases spirals light up when interacting with another galaxy, but NGC 6946 [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap040410.html ] appears relatively isolated in space. Located just 10 million light years [ http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question19.html ] away toward the constellation [ http://www.fillingthesky.com/id8.html ] of Cepheus [ http://www.astronomical.org/portal/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=20 ], this beautiful face-on spiral [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap041216.html ] spans about 20,000 light years and is seen through a field of foreground stars from our Milky Way Galaxy [ http://cassfos02.ucsd.edu/public/tutorial/MW.html ]. The center of NGC 6946 [ http://www.gemini.edu/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=116 ] is home to a nuclear starburst itself, and picturesque dark dust is seen lacing the disk along with bright blue stars [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031227.html ], red emission nebulas [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/emission_nebulae.html ], fast moving gas clouds, and unusually frequent supernovas [ http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/snr.html ]. The 8-meter Gemini North Telescope [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990629.html ] in Hawaii, USA [ http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html ], took the above image [ http://www.gemini.edu/index.php?set_albumName=Previous-Featured-Images&id=ngc6946_Small&option=com_gallery&Itemid=39&include=view_photo.php ]. A suggested explanation [ http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=2000MNRAS.319..821P ] for the high star formation rate is the recent accretion of many primordial low-mass neutral hydrogen clouds [ http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/clouds_hydrogen_swarm_andromeda.html?422004 ] from the surrounding region. |
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The Colliding Galaxies of NG
…
| Title |
The Colliding Galaxies of NGC 520 |
| Explanation |
Is this one galaxy or two? The jumble of stars, gas, and dust [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030706.html ] that is NGC 520 is now thought to incorporate the remains of two separate galaxies. A combination of observations and simulations indicate the NGC 520 [ http://www.kopernik.org/images/archive/n520.htm ] is actually the collision of two disk galaxies. Interesting features of NGC 520 include an unfamiliar looking tail of stars [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap040515.html ] at the image bottom and a perhaps more familiar looking band of dust [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031008.html ] running diagonally across the image center. A similar looking collision might be expected were our disk Milky Way Galaxy [ http://www.seds.org/messier/more/mw.html ] to collide [ http://www.cita.utoronto.ca/~dubinski/merger/bigmerger.html ] with our large galactic neighbor Andromeda [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap040718.html ] (M31). The collision that defines NGC 520 [ http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~jhibbard/n520/n520.html ] started about 300 million years ago and continues today. Although the speeds of stars are fast, the distances are so vast that the interacting pair will surely not change its shape noticeably during our lifetimes. NGC 520 [ http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=2005MNRAS.359..455R ], at visual magnitude [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apparent_magnitude ] 12, has been noted to be one of the brightest interacting galaxies on the sky, after interacting pairs of galaxies known as the Antennae [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap971022.html ]. NGC 520 was imaged above [ http://www.gemini.edu/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=150&Itemid=0&limit=1&limitstart=1 ] in spectacular fashion by the Gemini Observatory [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030909.html ] in Hawaii [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii ], USA [ http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html ]. Also known as Arp [ http://www.haltonarp.com/ ] 157, NGC 520 lies about 100 million light years [ http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/cosmic_distance.html ] distant, spans about 100 thousand light years, and can be seen with a small telescope toward the constellation [ http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/extra/constellations.html ] of the Fish (Pisces [ http://www.astronomical.org/portal/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=66 ]). |
|
Amazing Andromeda in Red
PIA03031
Multiband Imaging Photometer
…
| Title |
Amazing Andromeda in Red |
| Original Caption Released 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. |
|
Amazing Andromeda in Red
PIA03031
Multiband Imaging Photometer
…
| Title |
Amazing Andromeda in Red |
| Original Caption Released 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. |
|
Amazing Andromeda in Red
PIA03031
Multiband Imaging Photometer
…
| Title |
Amazing Andromeda in Red |
| Original Caption Released 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. |
|
Amazing Andromeda in Red
PIA03031
Multiband Imaging Photometer
…
| Title |
Amazing Andromeda in Red |
| Original Caption Released 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. |
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