This
image shows central region of the spiral galaxy NGC 4631 as seen edge-on
from NASAs Chandra X-ray Observatory and Hubble Space Telescope. The
Chandra data (shown in blue and purple) provide the first unambiguous evidence
for a halo of hot gas surrounding a galaxy that is very similar to our Milky
Way. The structure across the middle of the image and the extended faint
filaments (shown in orange) represent the observation from Hubble that reveals
giant bursting bubbles created by clusters of massive stars. Scientists
have debated for over 40 years whether the Milky Way has an extended corona,
or halo, of hot gas. Observations of NGC 4631 and similar galaxies provide
astronomers with an important tool in the understanding our own galactic
environment. |
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A
team of astronomers, led by Daniel Wang of the University of Massachusetts
at Amherst, observed NGC 4631 with Chandras Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer
(ACIS) instrument. The observation took place on April 15, 2000, and its
duration was approximately 60,000 seconds. |
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