MUSE shows ESO 137-001 in three dimensions

This view shows how the new MUSE instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope gives a three-dimensional depiction of the galaxy ESO 137-001 as it falls into the vast Norma Galaxy Cluster and is stripped of its gas.

For each part of the galaxy the light has been split up into its component colours — revealing not only the motions of different parts of the galaxy and its long tail but also clues to its chemical composition and other properties. At certain wavelengths the emission from the tail of the galaxy is clearly seen, as well as the different velocities of different parts.

During the subsequent analysis the astronomer can move through the data and study different views of the object at different wavelengths, just like tuning a television to different channels at different frequencies. In this sequence the speed is adjusted to highlight the glow from star formation regions in the tail.