Chandra Release - February 19, 2003

Visual Description: NGC 3079

Chandra's X-ray image (blue) has been combined with Hubble's optical image (red and green) to compose a stunning and revealing picture of the spiral galaxy NGC 3079.Towering filaments consisting of warm (about ten thousand degrees Celsius) and hot (about ten million degrees Celsius) gas blend to create a bright horseshoe-shaped feature near the center.   The X-ray image is dominated by bright blue-purple, while the optical image displays a combination of green, red and cream.  The spiral galaxy NGC 3079 is characterized by its well-defined spiral arms, with the galaxy seen mostly from its side, tipped up slightly to the viewer. The spiral arms are made up of stars, gas, and dust, contributing to the galaxy's overall structure.  In the X-ray image, the galaxy's central region appears brighter than its outer regions, showcasing the presence of a supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy.  An inset at the lower right provides a more detailed view of the towering filaments of hot gas at the galaxy’s core.