Feast your eyes: The Small Magellanic Cloud, one of the closest galaxies to the Milky Way.
(Credit: NASA/CXC/Univ.Potsdam/L.Oskinova et al; Optical: NASA/STScI; Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech) Astronomers describe it as a "dwarf galaxy" but the Small Magellanic Cloud, which happens to be one of the Milky Way's closest neighbors, is entirely majestic.
Trivia note: This galactic region takes its name from Ferdinand Magellan, the 16th century explorer who is reported to have made use of its placement in the heavens to help him steer his ship on his journeys around the world.
In this spectacular composite image, released today by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., which manages the Chandra program, scientists are reporting what they say is the presence of X-rays being emitted from young stars resembling our sun outside of the Milky Way. This is the first such detection for astronomers as they track the life cycle of stars. Reporting on the discovery, the co-authors of a new paper detailing their findings describe the so-called eastern 'Wing' of the Small Magellanic Cloud as "an excellent laboratory" for research into star formation owing to the region's low content of gas, dust and stars.
Color-composite image of NGC 602a
(Credit: Spitzer) <... [Read more]
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