Every time we think we have astronomic dynamics picture out , the universe throw a raw curveball at us . In a new range , two galaxy consumed a conspicuously - absentminded third . astronomic cannibalism is nothing new , but its chilling impact on asterisk formation is .
Top effigy : Galaxies NGC 3226 ( top ) and NGC 3227 ( bottom ) as realise in X - ray of light ignitor . Credit : NASA / CFHT / NRAO / JPL - Caltech / Duc / Cuillandre
In the configuration Leo , 49 million light years aside , galaxies NGC 3226 and NGC 3227 are glowing in the rush of consuming a now - absent third galaxy . But the spate of tender gas does n’t seem to be sitting well with NGC 3226 : the inflow of warm gas seems to be interrupt star formation by messing with the cool gas key to stellar nurseries .
TheChandra X - Ray Observatory , Herschel Space Observatory , theSpitzer Space Telescope , theHubble Space Telescope , theCanada France Hawaii Telescope , and theVery Large Array , join forces to look into the aftermath of the galactic feast . As theChandra Observatory faculty explicate :
tally material to galaxy often rejuvenates them , trigger new bout of star birth as gas and detritus gel together . Yet datum from the three telescope all betoken that NGC 3226 has a very low rate of wizard formation .
In this example , material falling into NGC 3226 is heating up as it collides with other astronomic gas and dust , allay star geological formation instead of fueling it . As this lovesome gas chills out in the future , though , NGC 3226 should get a 2d nothingness in its stalled - out yield of new stars .
Close up on a ( deficiency of ) stellar formation in NGC 3226 . range credit : NASA / CFHT / NRAO / JPL - Caltech / Duc / Cuillandre
The effigy is a complex of multiple wavelength . Greyscale is optic starlight ( 550 to 700 nanometers ) , divulge maven flung into great loop by the gravitational dance of colliding galaxies . Blue is tuner wavelength ( 21 centimeters ) of cool hydrogen gas from the consumed galaxy putting a damper on star establishment , with a big plume being pulled in by the somberness of NGC 3226 . Red is infrared expelling ( 8 microns ) of quick accelerator and detritus , a diminished spear at the tip of material from the cannibalized wandflower feed a disc in the core of NGC 3226 , and more extensive features within NGC 3227 .
Not pictured are reflexion from Herschel which were critical in modeling work on star shaping within the beetleweed , confirming that NGC 3226 is n’t doing much of anything except munching on cold gas .
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