Today's Image

Galactic fireworks

This galactic fireworks display is taking place in Messier 106, a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way. This galaxy is famous for its two extra spiral arms that glow in X-ray, optical, and radio light. These extra spiral arms aren't aligned with the plane of the galaxy.  Instead, they intersect it.
This galactic fireworks display is actually Messier 106, a spiral galaxy like our Milky Way. This distant galaxy is famous for its two extra spiral arms that glow in X-ray, optical, and radio light. These extra spiral arms aren’t aligned with the plane of the galaxy. Instead, they intersect it. Image via Chandra X-Ray Observatory.

A composite of Messier 106 – aka NGC 4258 – features X-rays from Chandra (blue), radio waves from the VLA (purple), optical data from Hubble (yellow and blue), and infrared with Spitzer (red). This galaxy is located about 23 million light years from Earth.

Posted 
July 4, 2015
 in 
Today's Image

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