Pressemeddelelse
Postkort fra det ekstragalaktiske rum?
En spiralgalakse, der ligner Mælkevejen.
1. juni 2011
Astronomer fra ESO har brugt Wide Field Imager på MPG/ESO 2,2 meter teleskopet til at tage et billede af NGC 6744. Denne imponerende spiralgalakse ligger omtrent 30 millioner lysår væk i det sydlige stjernebillede Pavo (på dansk Påfuglen). Men det kunne næsten lige så godt være et billede af vores egen galakse, Mælkevejen, der er taget og sendt til os af en ekstragalaktisk ven. Denne galakse har nemlig en slående lighed med vores egen.
Vi ser NGC 6744 næsten direkte ind mod skiven af stjerner, gas og støv, så vi oplever galaksens struktur i et dramatisk fugleperspektiv. Hvis vi havde teknologien til at rejse ud af Mælkevejen og kigge tilbage på den fra det intergalaktiske rum, er synet af NGC 6744 tæt på det, vi ville opleve – storslåede spiralarme, der snor sig omkring en tæt, langstrakt kerne og en støvet skive. Der er endda en forvredet ledsagergalakse, NGC 6744A, der her ses som en udtværet plet i den nederste højre del af NGC 6744. Den minder om en af de Magellanske Skyer, der er Mælkevejens naboer.
En forskel mellem NGC 6744 og Mælkevejen er størrelsen. Mens vores galakse er rundt regnet 100.000 lysår i diameter, har galaksen på dette billede en diameter, der er næsten dobbelt så stor. Ikke desto mindre giver NGC 6744 os en fornemmelse af, hvordan en fjern beskuer ville se vores galaktiske hjem.
Dette dramatiske objekt er en af de største og nærmeste spiralgalakser. Selv om galaksen har en lysstyrke, der svarer til cirka 60 milliarder gange Solens, er dens lys spredt over et stort område af himlen – omkring to tredjedele af fuldmånens bredde. Det får galaksen til at fremstå som et diset skær med et klart centrum, når den ses gennem små teleskoper. Alligevel er den et af de smukkeste objekter på den sydlige himmel, og amatørastronomer identificerer den som en oval form, der står i kontrast til en rig baggrund af stjerner.
Med professionelle teleskoper som MPG/ESO 2,2 meter teleskopet på La Silla, som har taget dette billede, kan NGC 6744 ses i al sin pragt. De støvede spiralarme er hjem for mange glødende stjernedannende områder (set i røde farver) og giver denne Mælkevejs-genganger sin slående spiralform.
Dette billede er taget med Wide Field Imager monteret på MPG/ESO 2,2 meter teleskopet på ESO’s La Silla-observatorium i Chile. Billedet er sammensat af optagelser taget gennem fire forskellige filtre, der har ladet blåt, gul-grønt og rødt lys samt gløden fra brintgas passere. Disse er vist på billedet som henholdsvis blå, grønne, orange og røde farver.
Mere information
ESO, det Europæiske Syd Observatorium, er den mest fremtrædende internationale astronomi-organisation i Europa og verdens mest produktive astronomiske observatorium. ESO har i dag følgende 14 medlemslande: Belgien, Danmark, Finland, Frankrig, Holland, Italien, Portugal, Schweiz og Storbritannien, Spanien, Sverige, Tjekkiet, Tyskland og Østrig. Flere lande har udtrykt interesse i medlemskab. ESO’s aktiviteter er fokuseret på design, konstruktion og drift af jordbaserede observationsfaciliteter for astronomi for at muliggøre vigtige videnskabelige opdagelser. ESO spiller også en ledende rolle for at fremme og organisere samarbejdet inden for astronomisk forskning. I Chile driver ESO tre unikke observatorier i verdensklasse: La Silla, Paranal og Chajnantor. På Paranal driver ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT), der er verdens mest avancerede astronomiske observatorium til observationer i synligt lys. ESO er den europæiske partner i et revolutionerede astronomisk teleskop kaldet ALMA, det største igangværende astronomiske projekt. ESO planlægger i øjeblikket et 42 meter optisk/nær-infrarødt teleskop kaldet European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), der vil blive ”verdens største øje mod himlen”.
Links
Kontakter
Richard Hook
ESO, La Silla, Paranal, E-ELT and Survey Telescopes Public Information Officer
Garching bei München, Germany
Tel: +49 89 3200 6655
E-mail: rhook@eso.org
Ole J. Knudsen (Pressekontakt Danmark)
ESOs formidlingsnetværk
og Aarhus Space Centre, Aarhus Universitet
Aarhus, Danmark
Tel: +45 8715 5597
E-mail: eson-denmark@eso.org
Om pressemeddelelsen
| Pressemeddelelse nr.: | eso1118da |
| Navn: | NGC 6744 |
| Type: | Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral |
| Facility: | MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope |
| Instruments: | WFI |
Billeder
tekst kun tilgængelig på engelsk
tekst kun tilgængelig på engelsk
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