Universe
ID: 30952
This sequence uses visible (Hubble) and X-ray (Chandra) imagery to highlight different structures within the Whirlpool galaxy (Messier 51). As seen in visible light, the familiar whirlpool shape is traced out by glowing spiral arms. These arms are composed of billions of stars orbiting about the center of the galaxy over millions of years. The pink color is from hot hydrogen gas that permeates the galaxy and indicates sites of new star formation. Silhouetted in the bright arms are dark lanes of obscuring dust that blocks visible light. The stars farther away from the center orbit more slowly and fall behind, creating the signature spiral "winding" arm. A massive black hole lies at the galaxy’s center. The black hole can’t be seen directly, but its presence is hinted at by the dense star clusters at the center. A second smaller spiral galaxy can be seen in the upper-right portion of the image. The second image shows the X-ray view, highlighting the very hottest gas at millions of degrees Fahrenheit. The X-rays most closely match the visible pink hot gas in active star-forming regions and are particularly strong near the galactic centers of both galaxies. X-rays are also penetrating obscuring dust.
The Whirlpool Galaxy: Visible and X-ray Views
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Credits
Greg Bacon (STScI): Visualizer
Leann Johnson (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Technical Support
Leann Johnson (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Technical Support
Please give credit for this item to:
Video: NASA, ESA, and G. Bacon (STScI)
Optical image: NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI)
X-ray image: NASA/Chandra/CXC
Video: NASA, ESA, and G. Bacon (STScI)
Optical image: NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI)
X-ray image: NASA/Chandra/CXC
Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30952
Missions:
Chandra X-Ray Observatory
Hubble
Data Used:
Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.
Keywords:
SVS >> Dust
SVS >> Galaxy
SVS >> Gas
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Hydrogen
SVS >> X-ray
SVS >> Hyperwall
SVS >> Star
NASA Science >> Universe
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30952
Missions:
Chandra X-Ray Observatory
Hubble
Data Used:
Hubble Space Telescope
Observed DataChandra/Telescope System
Keywords:
SVS >> Dust
SVS >> Galaxy
SVS >> Gas
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Hydrogen
SVS >> X-ray
SVS >> Hyperwall
SVS >> Star
NASA Science >> Universe
