Surprise Ultraviolet Party in the Sky

Galex_glx2005-03r_img03_1024

galex_glx2005-03r_img03 May 31st, 2005

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Galaxies aren't the only objects filling up the view of NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer. Since its launch in 2003, the space telescope -- originally designed to observe galaxies across the universe in ultraviolet light -- has discovered a festive sky blinking with flaring and erupting stars, as well as streaking asteroids, satellites and space debris. A group of six streaking objects -- the identities of which remain unknown -- can be seen here flying across the telescope's sight in this sped-up movie.

The two brightest objects appear to perform a sharp turn then travel in the reverse direction. This illusion is most likely the result of the Galaxy Evolution Explorer overtaking the objects as it orbits around Earth.

Careful inspection reveals four additional faint objects with the same timing and behavior. These faint objects are easiest to see during the retrograde portion of their paths. Three appear between the two bright sources, and one is above them, near the edge of the field of view.

These bonus objects are being collected in to public catalogues for other astronomers to study.

Provider: Galaxy Evolution Explorer

Image Source: http://www.galex.caltech.edu/media/glx2005-03r_img03.html

Curator: Galaxy Evolution Explorer

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Image Details

Image Type
Collage

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Blue GALEX (FUV) Ultraviolet (FUV) 150.0 nm
Yellow GALEX (NUV) Ultraviolet (NUV) 230.0 nm
Spectrum_base
Blue
Yellow
Galex_glx2005-03r_img03_1280
×
ID
glx2005-03r_img03
Subject Category
Subject Name
Credits
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Release Date
2005-05-31
Lightyears
Redshift
Reference Url
http://www.galex.caltech.edu/media/glx2005-03r_img03.html
Type
Collage
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
GALEX, GALEX
Instrument
FUV, NUV
Color Assignment
Blue, Yellow
Band
Ultraviolet, Ultraviolet
Bandpass
FUV, NUV
Central Wavelength
150, 230
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
Equinox
Reference Value
Reference Dimension
Reference Pixel
Scale
Rotation
Coordinate System Projection:
Quality
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
Galaxy Evolution Explorer
URL
http://www.galex.caltech.edu
Name
Email
Telephone
Address
City
State/Province
Postal Code
Country
Rights
Publisher
Galaxy Evolution Explorer
Publisher ID
galex
Resource ID
Resource URL
/image/galex/glx2005-03r_img03
Related Resources
Metadata Date
2022-08-17T18:31:51Z
Metadata Version
1.2
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Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

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There is no distance meta data in this image.

 

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