Barred Spiral Galaxy Eso 137-001 is a photograph by Science Source which was uploaded on July 7th, 2014.
Barred Spiral Galaxy Eso 137-001
The spiral galaxy ESO 137-001 is zooming toward the upper left of this image, in between other galaxies in the Norma cluster located over 200 million... more
Title
Barred Spiral Galaxy Eso 137-001
Artist
Science Source
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Photograph
Description
The spiral galaxy ESO 137-001 is zooming toward the upper left of this image, in between other galaxies in the Norma cluster located over 200 million light-years away. The road is harsh intergalactic gas in the Norma cluster is sparse, but so hot at 180 million degrees Fahrenheit that it glows. The spiral plows through the seething intra-cluster gas so rapidly -- at nearly 4.5 million miles per hour -- much of its own gas is caught and torn away. Astronomers call this "ram pressure stripping." The galaxy's stars remain intact due to the binding force of their gravity. From a star-forming perspective, ESO 137-001 really is spreading its seeds into space like a dandelion in the wind. The stripped gas is now forming stars. However, the galaxy, drained of its own star-forming fuel, will have trouble making stars in the future. Through studying this runaway spiral, and other galaxies like it, astronomers hope to gain a better understanding of how galaxies form stars and evolve over time. Release date March 4, 2014.
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July 7th, 2014
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