Astronomers Find Spiraling Stars May Be Feeding Star Formation in a Nearby Stellar Nursery Stars are the machines that sculpt the universe, yet researchers still don't fully know how they form. Scientists turned to the Small Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, to understand
The massive star cluster NGC 346, located in the Small Magellanic Cloud, has long intrigued astronomers with its unusual shape. Now researchers using two separate methods have determined that this shape is partly due to stars and gas spiraling into the center of this cluster in a river-like motion. The red spiral superimposed on NGC 346 traces the movement of stars and gas toward the center.
The Small Magellanic Cloud has a simpler chemical composition than the Milky Way. This makes it similar to the galaxies found in the younger universe when heavier elements were more scarce. Because of this, the stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud burn hotter and therefore run out of their fuel faster than in our Milky Way.
NGC 346 boasts the mass of 50,000 Suns, despite being only 150 light-years in diameter. Its intriguing shape and rapid star-formation rate have baffled astronomers. It required the combined power of’s Hubble Space Telescope and the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope to unravel the behavior of this mysterious-looking stellar nesting ground.
However, this cluster is relatively far away, inside a neighboring galaxy. This means the amount of observed motion from our vantage point is very small and therefore difficult to measure. These extraordinarily precise observations were possible only because of Hubble’s outstanding resolution and high sensitivity. Additionally, Hubble’s three-decade-long history of observations provides a baseline for astronomers to follow minute celestial motions over time.
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
2022 CMA Awards: The Complete List of NominationsSee which country music stars are leading the pack at this year's CMA Awards.
Weiterlesen »
TikToker Charli D’Amelio, mom Heidi join ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 31The dance competition show officially announced the first two celebrities who will vie for the mirrorball trophy when Season 31 kicks off Sept. 19 on Disney+.
Weiterlesen »
Watch Lily James, Shazad Latif Fall for Each Other in 'What's Love Got to Do With It?' TrailerLily James has a lot to learn about love in the first trailer for upcoming rom-com 'What's Love Got to Do With It?.'
Weiterlesen »
The James Webb Telescope captures the Tarantula Nebula in stunning detail | EngadgetThe Tarantula Nebula's bright young stars glow blue in the telescope's images..
Weiterlesen »