M87星系喷流的照片
(2009-11-18 16:36:39)
标签:
杂谈 |
这是哈勃太空望远镜拍摄的M87星系喷流的照片。喷流是如何产生,又如何准直的,仍然是一个谜。
Explanation: What's causing a huge
jet to emanate from the center of galaxy M87? Although the unusual
jet was first noticed early in the twentieth century, the exact
cause is still debated. The above recently released picture taken
by the Hubble Space Telescope shows clear details, however. The
most popular hypothesis holds that the jet is created by energetic
gas swirling around a massive black hole at the galaxy's center.
The result is a 5000 light-year long blowtorch where electrons are
ejected outward at near light-speed, emitting eerily blue light
during a magnetic spiral. M87 is a giant elliptical galaxy residing
only 50 million light-years away in the Virgo Cluster of Galaxies.
The faint dots of light surrounding M87's center are large ancient
globular clusters of stars.