The Heat Is On in Andromeda's Center

Chandra_324_1024

chandra_324 June 5th, 2006

Credit: NASA/UMass/Z.Li & Q.D.Wang

This color-coded Chandra image (red/low energy, green/medium energy, and blue/high energy X-rays) shows the central region of the Andromeda Galaxy where a diffuse, X-ray emitting cloud of hot gas was discovered in the midst of a collection of point-like sources. The point sources are associated with binary star systems that contain a neutron star or black hole that is pulling matter away from a normal star. The diffuse X-ray cloud is due to gas that has accumulated in the central region and been heated to millions of degrees, probably by supernova explosions. The energy input from the supernovas could also be driving gas out of the central region. This process may affect both the shape and evolution of the galaxy.

Provider: Chandra X-ray Observatory

Image Source: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2006/m31/

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

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

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Image Details Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
Subject - Local Universe
Galaxy > Type > Spiral

Distance Details Distance

Universescale2
2,900,000 light years
Chandra_324_128
 

Position Details Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 0h 42m 43.8s
DEC = 41° 15’ 33.2”
Orientation
North is 0.6° CCW
Field of View
28.0 x 28.0 arcminutes
Constellation
Andromeda

Color Mapping Details Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Red Chandra (ACIS) X-ray (Low X-ray) 1.65 nm
Green Chandra (ACIS) X-ray (Medium X-ray) 827.0 pm
Blue Chandra (ACIS) X-ray (High X-ray) 413.0 pm
Spectrum_xray1
Red
Green
Blue
Chandra_324_1280
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ID
324
Subject Category
C.5.1.1  
Subject Name
Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
Credits
NASA/UMass/Z.Li & Q.D.Wang
Release Date
2006-06-05
Lightyears
2,900,000
Redshift
2,900,000
Reference Url
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2006/m31/
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Chandra, Chandra, Chandra
Instrument
ACIS, ACIS, ACIS
Color Assignment
Red, Green, Blue
Band
X-ray, X-ray, X-ray
Bandpass
Low X-ray, Medium X-ray, High X-ray
Central Wavelength
1.65, 0.827, 0.413
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
2000.0
Reference Value
10.68235590000, 41.25921250000
Reference Dimension
2400.00, 2400.00
Reference Pixel
1208.90522372334, 1192.68576179719
Scale
-0.00019442746, 0.00019442746
Rotation
0.55666449650
Coordinate System Projection:
TAN
Quality
Full
FITS Header
Notes
World Coordinate System resolved using PinpointWCS 0.9.0 revision 213+ by the Chandra X-ray Center
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
m31.tif
Resource URL
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2006/m31/m31.tif
Related Resources
Metadata Date
2012-07-26T13:49:56-04:00
Metadata Version
1.2
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Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

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Universescalefull
2,900,000 light years

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