Orphan Stars Found in Long Galaxy Tail
This composite image shows a tail that has been created as the galaxy ESO 137-001 plunges into the galaxy cluster Abell 3627. X-rays from Chandra (blue) and optical light (white and red) from the SOAR telescope show that as the galaxy plummets, it sheds material and is forming stars behind it in a tail that stretches over 200,000 light years long. This result demonstrates that stars can form well outside of their parent galaxy.
Credit:X-ray: NASA/CXC/MSU/M.Sun et al;
H-alpha/Optical: SOAR (MSU/NOAO/UNC/CNPq-Brazil)/M.Sun et al.
About the Image
Id: | noaoann07031a |
Type: | Observation |
Release date: | Sept. 24, 2007, 6 p.m. |
Related announcements: | noaoann07031 |
Size: | 576 x 523 px |
About the Object
Name: | Abell 3627 |
Category: | Galaxy Clusters Stars |