Galactic Center Star Clusters (APOD 10 Aug 2006)
Galactic Center Star Clusters (APOD 10 Aug 2006)
Does anyone have any idea what would cause the comet like item near picture center?
- iamlucky13
- Commander
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- Joined: Thu May 25, 2006 7:28 pm
- Location: Seattle, WA
I'm not sure I understand since the whole structure appears somewhat comet-like. I suppose perhaps you are referring to a smaller white streak aligned about 30 degrees from horizontal just below the middle of the frame?
My first thought was an x-ray jet from a black hole, but in retrospect I think an x-ray jet would have to be pointed roughly at us to be directly detected. However, it may also be an x-ray jet interacting with interstellar gas. Since it appears to be nearly white, it is presumably a mix of high, medium, and low energy x-rays (shown in blue, green, and red). Perhaps it is a star cluster shadowed by closer features in the galactic core, or perhaps it's a more distant x-ray source that has been gravitationally lensed.
My first thought was an x-ray jet from a black hole, but in retrospect I think an x-ray jet would have to be pointed roughly at us to be directly detected. However, it may also be an x-ray jet interacting with interstellar gas. Since it appears to be nearly white, it is presumably a mix of high, medium, and low energy x-rays (shown in blue, green, and red). Perhaps it is a star cluster shadowed by closer features in the galactic core, or perhaps it's a more distant x-ray source that has been gravitationally lensed.
"Any man whose errors take ten years to correct is quite a man." ~J. Robert Oppenheimer (speaking about Albert Einstein)
- orin stepanek
- Plutopian
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http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060810.html
The streak in the middle does indeed look comet like; but given the distande it is probably larger than our solar system.
Orin
The streak in the middle does indeed look comet like; but given the distande it is probably larger than our solar system.
Orin
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap050403.html
Qev
This one is what I believe you are refering to. And I believe you're right about the filaments
Qev
This one is what I believe you are refering to. And I believe you're right about the filaments