NASA Galaxy: Two telescopes teamed up to offer a stunning panorama of the heart of our galaxy!
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The new view of the center of our Milky Way Galaxy reminds us of many things: fireworks, journalistic lenses, diamonds on a dark night.
This newly released image of the galaxy is the work of NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Earth-based Meerkat radio telescope in South Africa. " Threads of superheated gas and magnetic fields weave a tapestry of energy at the center of our galaxy ," NASA said last week
The bright colors in the panoramic view represent different data. The Chandra X-ray image is rendered in orange, green, blue, and purple. The Meerkat radio telescope data is gray and lilac.
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The image is a marvel that everyone should see, but it also helps scientists understand what's happening in this part of our galaxy.
Astronomer Q. Daniel Wang of the University of Massachusetts is the author of a study of the center of the Milky Way, the point where our galaxy spins, that uses Chandra and Meerkat to explore the fascinating features and structures hidden there. The study is part of the June issue of Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Wang carefully examined a thread-like filament in the center.
"A detailed study of these filaments teaches us more about the galactic space weather that astronomers have detected throughout the region," NASA said.
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The space agency said the weather is made up of dramatic events such as explosions , stars spewing hot gas and explosions near the galaxy's supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*.
The galactic center is a wild place, and researchers are still trying to figure out what's going on there. Continued observations will keep scientists busy, and the rest of us can marvel in awe at the energetic beauty of our Milky Way, as seen through the big eyes of our telescopes.
