Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/06/andromeda_composite/
ESA releases splendid new space-'scope pic of Andromeda
Neighbouring spiral galaxy refulgent in X-ray, infrared
Posted in Science, 6th January 2011 10:17 GMT
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The European Space Agency (ESA) has released an impressive composite snap [1] of the closest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way – an infrared and X-ray mélange showing Andromeda in all its glory:
The Herschel [2] space telescope captured the infrared component of the image (shown in red/orange), while the XMM-Newton [3] observatory provided the X-ray component (blue).
ESA explains that "Herschel sees clouds of cool dust and gas where stars can form", while XMM-Newton "highlights hundreds of X-ray sources within Andromeda".
Some of the latter, ESA elaborates, are "shockwaves and debris rolling through space from exploded stars", while others are "pairs of stars locked in a gravitational fight to the death".
Andromeda, aka M31, lies at 2.5 million light-years from Earth. It's estimated to contain a trillion stars, and in around 4.5 billion years will be involved in an almighty galactic pile-up* with our own 200 to 400 billion-star spiral home. ®
ESA has more on the image here [4]. ®
Bootnote
* Mercifully, we won't be around to see the result, because it may look something like this [5]:
[6]
Links
- http://www.esa.int/images/M31_XMM_HERSCHEL.jpg
- http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Herschel/SEMBJRTTGOF_0.html
- http://www.esa.int/esaSC/120385_index_0_m.html
- http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Herschel/SEMY1K0SDIG_0.html
- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/14/ngc_2623/
- http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/screen/heic0912a.jpg
