Bright Galaxy With Two Nuclei
by Science Source
Title
Bright Galaxy With Two Nuclei
Artist
Science Source
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
The galaxy depicted in this image from the Hubble Space Telescope, IRAS 16399-0937, is a megamaser. Megamasers are around 100 million times brighter than the masers found in galaxies like the Milky Way. The entire galaxy essentially acts as an astronomical laser that beams out microwave emission rather than visible light (hence the "m" replacing the "l" in "laser"). IRAS 16399-0937 is located over 370 million light-years from Earth. Astronomers have determined that this galaxy hosts a double nucleus -- the galaxy's core is thought to be formed of two separate cores in the process of merging. The two components, named IRAS 16399N and IRAS 16399S for the northern and southern parts respectively, sit over 11,000 light-years apart. However, they are both buried deep within the same swirl of cosmic gas and dust and are interacting, giving the galaxy its peculiar structure.
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March 27th, 2017
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