Chandra Captures Galaxy Sparkling in X-rays

Chandra_570_1024

chandra_570 June 3rd, 2014

Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Wesleyan Univ./R.Kilgard, et al; Optical: NASA/STScI

This image contains nearly a million seconds worth of Chandra observing time (purple) along with optical data from the Hubble Space Telescope (red, green, and blue). The X-ray data reveal hundreds of point-like sources, most of which are X-ray binary systems (XRBs) containing a neutron star or black hole in orbit with a star like the Sun. Researchers are studying the XRBs in M51, a.k.a. the "Whirlpool Galaxy," to better understand the role they play in the evolution of the galaxy.

Provider: Chandra X-ray Observatory

Image Source: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2014/m51/

Curator: Chandra X-ray Observatory, Cambridge, MA, USA

Image Use Policy: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/image_use.html

Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
Whirlpool Galaxy M51
Subject - Local Universe
Galaxy > Type > Spiral
Galaxy > Type > Interacting
Galaxy > Component > Spiral Arm
Galaxy > Grouping > Pair

Distance

Universescale2
30,000,000 light years
Chandra_570_128
 

Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 13h 29m 52.4s
DEC = 47° 12’ 48.5”
Orientation
North is up
Field of View
6.4 x 9.6 arcminutes
Constellation
Canes Venatici

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Purple Chandra (ACIS) X-ray (X-ray) 826.7 pm
Blue Hubble (ACS/WFC) Optical (B-band) 435.0 nm
Green Hubble (ACS/WFC) Optical (V-band) 555.0 nm
Red Hubble (ACS/WFC) Optical (H-alpha) 658.0 nm
Spectrum_xray1
Purple
Blue
Green
Red
Chandra_570_1280
×
ID
570
Subject Category
C.5.1.1   C.5.1.7   C.5.4.7   C.5.5.1  
Subject Name
Whirlpool Galaxy, M51
Credits
X-ray: NASA/CXC/Wesleyan Univ./R.Kilgard, et al; Optical: NASA/STScI
Release Date
2014-06-03
Lightyears
30,000,000
Redshift
30,000,000
Reference Url
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2014/m51/
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Chandra, Hubble, Hubble, Hubble
Instrument
ACIS, ACS/WFC, ACS/WFC, ACS/WFC
Color Assignment
Purple, Blue, Green, Red
Band
X-ray, Optical, Optical, Optical
Bandpass
X-ray, B-band, V-band, H-alpha
Central Wavelength
0.8267, 435, 555, 658
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
J2000
Reference Value
202.4682856, 47.2134616
Reference Dimension
2384.0, 3600.0
Reference Pixel
1193.0, 1801.0
Scale
4.44411e-05, 4.4441128e-05
Rotation
-0.03
Coordinate System Projection:
TAN
Quality
Full
FITS Header
Notes
WCS retrieved using CXCs PinpointWCS
Creator (Curator)
Chandra X-ray Observatory
URL
http://chandra.harvard.edu
Name
Chandra X-ray Observatory Center
Email
cxcpub@cfa.harvard.edu
Telephone
617.496.7941
Address
60 Garden St.
City
Cambridge
State/Province
MA
Postal Code
02138
Country
USA
Rights
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/image_use.html
Publisher
Chandra X-ray Observatory Center
Publisher ID
chandra
Resource ID
m51.tif
Resource URL
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2014/m51/m51.tif
Related Resources
Metadata Date
2014-06-03T13:53:27-04:00
Metadata Version
1.2
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Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

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Universescalefull
30,000,000 light years

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