邻近的大质量螺旋星系NGC 2841

2021年01月24日

Massive Nearby Spiral Galaxy NGC 2841
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble, Subaru; Composition & Copyright: Roberto Colombari

Explanation: It is one of the more massive galaxies known. A mere 46 million light-years distant, spiral galaxy NGC 2841 can be found in the northern constellation of Ursa Major. This sharp view of the gorgeous island universe shows off a striking yellow nucleus and galactic disk. Dust lanes, small, pink star-forming regions, and young blue star clusters are embedded in the patchy, tightly wound spiral arms. In contrast, many other spirals exhibit grand, sweeping arms with large star-forming regions. NGC 2841 has a diameter of over 150,000 light-years, even larger than our own Milky Way. The featured composite image merges exposures from the orbiting 2.4-meter Hubble Space Telescope and the ground-based 8.2-meter Subaru Telescope. X-ray images suggest that resulting winds and stellar explosions create plumes of hot gas extending into a halo around NGC 2841.

Tomorrow’s picture: volcanic cross

邻近的大质量螺旋星系NGC 2841
影像提供: NASA, ESA, Hubble, Subaru; 影像合成与版权: Roberto Colombari

说明: 它是现知较大质量的星系之一。离我们只有4千6百万光年远的螺旋星系NGC 2841，位在北天的大熊座之内。上面这幅此壮丽宇宙岛的清晰影像，除了突显它醒目的星系核和星系盘之外，也呈现镶缀在片状紧密缠绕螺旋臂上的尘埃带、细小粉红恒星形成区和年轻蓝色星团。相较之下，许多其他具有雄伟广袤螺旋臂的螺旋星系，上头通常镶缀着巨大的恒星形成区。NGC 2841的直径超过150,000光年，比我们的银河系还要大。上面这幅组合主题影像，结合了轨道上2.4米哈勃太空望远镜和地面8.2米昴宿望远镜的影像数据。X射线波段影像指出，星系的恒星风和恒星爆炸，把许多炽热气体喷入星系NGC 2841的外晕。

明日的图片: volcanic cross