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APOD
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Unusual Gas Filaments Surround Galaxy NGC 1275
Explanation: How were the unusual gas filaments surrounding galaxy NGC 1275 created? No one is sure. Galaxy NGC 1275 is the central dominant galaxy of the Perseus Cluster of Galaxies , a cluster with many member galaxies visible in the above image. In visible light, NGC 1275 appears to show a spectacular collision between two distinct galaxies. The galaxy and cluster are also bright emitters of X-rays . The unusual gas filaments are shown above in a very specific color of light emitted by hydrogen , here artificially colored pink. Possible origins for the filaments may involve details of the collision between the two galaxies, or alternatively, interactions between a galactic center black hole and the surrounding intracluster gas . NGC 1275, pictured above , spans about 100,000 light years and lies about 230 million light years distant toward the constellation of Perseus .
| Date | July 25, 2005 |
|---|---|
| Credit | Credit & Copyright: C. Conselice ( Caltech ) , WIYN , AURA , NOAO , NSF |
| Authors & editors: | Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) |
| A service of: |
ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U. |