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ESO 137-001 in Abell 3627:
Orphan Stars Found in Long Galaxy Tail
This composite image of X-ray and optical light shows a tail that has been created as a galaxy plunges into a cluster, shedding material and forming stars behind it. In this image, X-rays from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory (blue) are seen to extend for over 200,000 light years behind the galaxy called ESO 137-001. Emission from hydrogen light (red), known to astronomers as "H-alpha", and the continuum of optical light (white) were gathered from the Southern Astrophysical Research telescope (SOAR) in Chile.
The tail was created as gas was stripped from ESO 137-001 as it descends toward the center of Abell 3627, a giant cluster of galaxies. The tail in X-rays reveals multimillion-degree gas from the cluster and the H-alpha radiation, which stretches for about 130,000 light years, is much cooler gas. Evidence for star formation in this tail includes 29 regions of ionized hydrogen that are glowing in H-alpha, from the light of newly formed stars. These regions are all downstream of the galaxy, located in or near the tail. The researchers believe the stars formed in the tail within the last 10 million years or so. Two Chandra X-ray sources near these regions represent extra evidence for star formation activity.
| Fast Facts for Abell 3627: |
| Credit |
X-ray: NASA/CXC/MSU/M.Sun et al; H-alpha/Optical: SOAR (MSU/NOAO/UNC/CNPq-Brazil)/M.Sun et al.
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| Scale |
Image is
2.8 arcmin across |
| Category |
Groups & Clusters of Galaxies |
| Coordinates (J2000) |
RA 16h 12m 39.43s | Dec 60° 47' 02.71'' |
| Constellation |
Triangulum Australe |
| Observation Date |
6/14/2004
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| Observation Time |
4 hours |
| Obs. ID |
4956
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| Color Code |
X-ray: blue; H-alpha: red; Optical: white
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| Instrument |
ACIS |
| References | Sun, M. et al, 2007, ApJ, accepted; Sun, M, et al, 2006, ApJ, 637, L81
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| Distance Estimate |
About 219 million light years |
| Release Date |
September 20, 2007 |
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