New NASA photos reveal 16 galaxies from across the cosmos in dazzling detail
Spirals, ellipticals, irregulars, oh my!
NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has released a collection of images showcasing 16 galaxies from various corners of the universe in remarkable detail. The 16 photos incorporate decades' worth of Chandra's x-ray data, combined with observations from other space and ground telescopes worldwide. These celestial giants offer valuable insights into our own Milky Way galaxy's history and the universe's evolution over time.
NASA's Chandra, launched in 1999, boasts the highest-resolution x-ray telescope in orbit. It has captured everything from colossal colliding galaxies to bizarre, deceased stars. Among the featured images are spiral galaxies, which possess a central concentration of stars surrounded by "arms" resembling a pinwheel – the Milky Way is a spiral galaxy. One such galaxy, known as NGC 4631, has earned the nickname "Whale Galaxy" due to its shape when viewed from a specific angle.
Other images showcase elliptical galaxies, which lack prominent arms or structural complexity. These galaxies are predominantly composed of older stars and can expand to surpass any other galaxy type. The galaxy in question, M104, is a unique hybrid of elliptical and spiral galaxies, earning the moniker "Sombrero Galaxy."
The final group of images encompasses irregular galaxies, which come in a myriad of shapes and sizes, as the name implies. These images also offer hints about the transformations and collisions that shape galaxies, such as waves of star births and supermassive black holes. The two galaxy pairs displayed above – Arp 143 and II Zw 096 – highlight mergers and collisions between galaxies.
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