Mapping distant galaxies

Three examples of results obtained with GIRAFFE on distant galaxies. In the first column, images of galaxies as obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope are shown. The second column is the velocity field as deduced from GIRAFFE observations : the reddish parts show material moving away from us with respect to the mean velocity of the galaxy, while the blue parts are moving towards us. The scale in km/s is shown on the right. The last column is a map of electron density per cubic centimetre. The first object corresponds to a spiral galaxy forming star at a frantic rate of 100 solar masses per year. The electron density map allows the astronomers to localise the region of star formation as the black region on the left. The second object is a galaxy which is clearly "out of balance" and therefore shows a very perturbed velocity field. The third object appears to show an outflow — matter being ejected perpendicular to the plane of the galaxy.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso0610b
Type:Observation
Release date:15 March 2006
Related releases:eso0610
Size:1106 x 683 px

About the Object

Name:GIRAFFE, Hubble Space Telescope
Type:Early Universe : Galaxy
Category:Galaxies

Image Formats

Large JPEG
158.5 KB
Screensize JPEG
132.0 KB

Wallpapers

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1280x1024
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295.1 KB
2048x1536
313.2 KB

Colours & filters

BandTelescope
OpticalVery Large Telescope
FLAMES