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Chandra X-ray image shows the central regions of two colliding galaxies
known collectively as "The Antennae." The latest Chandra data
reveal a large population of extremely bright X-ray sources in this area
of intense star formation. These "ultraluminous" X-ray sources,
which emit 10 to several hundred times more X-ray power than similar sources
in our own Galaxy, are believed to be either massive black holes, or black
holes that are beaming their energy toward Earth. In this X-ray image, red
represents the low energy band, green intermediate and blue the highest
observed energies. The white and yellow sources are those that emit significant
amounts of both low- and high-energy X-rays. |
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The
Antennae Galaxies, about 60 million light years from Earth in the constellation
Corvus, got their nickname from the wispy antennae-like streams of gas seen
by optical telescopes. These wisps are believed to have been produced by
the collision between the galaxies that began about 100 million years ago
and is still occurring. |
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