The superwind galaxy NGC 4666

This visible light image, made with the Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile, shows the galaxy NGC 4666 in the centre. It is a starburst galaxy, about 80 million light-years from Earth, in which particularly intense star formation is taking place. The starburst is thought to be caused by gravitational interactions with neighbouring galaxies, including NGC 4668, visible to the lower left. A combination of supernova explosions and strong winds from massive stars in the starburst region drives a vast outflow of gas from the galaxy into space — a so-called “superwind”. NGC 4666 had previously been observed in X-rays by the ESA XMM-Newton space telescope, and these visible light observations were made to target background objects detected in the earlier X-ray images.

This picture, which covers a field of 16 by 12 arcminutes, is a combination of twelve CCD frames, 67 megapixels each, taken through blue, green and red filters.

Oikeudet:

ESO/J. Dietrich

Kuvasta

Tunnistus:eso1036a
Tyyppi:Havainto
Julkaisupäivä:1. syyskuuta 2010 12:00
Vastaavat julkaisut:eso1036
Koko:3946 x 3168 px

Kohteesta

Nimi:NGC 4666
Tyyppi:Local Universe : Galaxy : Activity : Starburst
Etäisyys:80 miljoona valovuotta
Constellation:Virgo
Kategoria:Galaxies

Kuvaformaatit

Suuri JPEG
4,7 MB
Kokoruudun JPEG
130,7 KB

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Koordinaatit

Position (RA):12 45 8.68
Position (Dec):0° 27' 43.36"
Field of view:15.64 x 12.55 arcminutes
Suuntaus:Pohjoinen on 0.0° oikea pystysuuntaan nähden

Värit ja suotimet

KaistaAallonpituusTeleskooppi
Optinen
B
451 nmMPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Optinen
V
539 nmMPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Optinen
R
651 nmMPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI