Superwind, Chandra and Hubble

2003/05/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astronomia

This image of the galaxy NGC 3079 has been achieved by unifying the measurements of the Chandra and Hubble observatories. The Chandra X-ray Observatory is due to blue regions, while red and green to Hubble. Astronomers have been struck by the filaments seen from the center of the galaxy. These filaments are gas and, after analyzing them, astronomers have come to the conclusion of how they have occurred. From the center of the galaxy comes a superwind of gas at full speed that causes a hole in the cold gas of the disk of the galaxy.

According to astronomers, this phenomenon has generated filaments in tower. The superwind arises from the presence of a black hole in the center of the galaxy, or from an explosion of supernova inside it. It is believed to play an important role in the evolution of the galaxy, regulating the formation of new stars and extending heavy elements to the outer areas of the galaxy.