Uma superbolha surpreendente
Esta nova imagem colorida mostra a região de formação estelar LHA 120-N44 [1] na Grande Nuvem de Magalhães, uma pequena galáxia satélite da Via Láctea. Esta imagem combina dados no visível do telescópio MPG/ESO de 2.2 metros, instalado no Observatório de La Silla do ESO, no Chile, com dados no infravermelho e nos raios X obtidos com observatórios espaciais situados em órbita da Terra.
No centro desta região muito rica em gás, poeira e estrelas jovens situa-se o enxame estelar NGC 1929. As suas estrelas de elevada massa emitem radiação intensa, expelem matéria a altas velocidades sob a forma de ventos estelares e correm ao longo das suas curtas mas brilhantes vidas, explodindo no final como supernovas. Os ventos e as ondas de choque das supernovas esculpem uma enorme cavidade, chamada uma superbolha, no gás circundante.
Observações com o Observatório de Raios X da NASA, o Chandra (a azul na imagem) revelam regiões quentes criadas por estes ventos e choques, enquanto os dados infravermelhos do Telescópio Espacial Spitzer, da NASA (a vermelho), delineiam as zonas onde se encontram a poeira e o gás mais frio. Os dados no visível do telescópio MPG/ESO de 2.2 metros (a amarelo) completam a imagem, mostrando as estrelas quentes jovens propriamente ditas, assim como as brilhantes nuvens de gás e poeira que as rodeiam.
Combinando dados da região a diferentes comprimentos de onda permitiu aos astrónomos resolver um mistério: porque é que a N44, e outras superbolhas semelhantes, emitem raios X tão intensos? A resposta parece residir no facto de existirem duas fontes extra de emissão de raios X brilhantes: as ondas de choque das supernovas que atingem as paredes das cavidades e a matéria quente que se evapora das paredes das cavidades. Esta emissão de raios X vinda da periferia da superbolha é claramente visível na imagem.
Links
Notas
[1] A designação deste objeto indica que foi incluído no catálogo de estrelas e nebulosas com emissão H-alfa nas Nuvens de Magalhães, compilado e publicado em 1956 pelo astrónomo-astronauta americano Karl Henize (1926-1993). A letra "N" indica que é uma nebulosa. O objeto é conhecido mais simplesmente como N44.
Créditos:Optical: ESO, X-ray: NASA/CXC/U.Mich./S.Oey, IR: NASA/JPL
Sobre a imagem
| Id: | potw1236a |
| Língua: | pt |
| Tipo: | Observação |
| Data de divulgação: | 3 de Setembro de 2012 às 10:00 |
| Tamanho: | 3600 x 2874 px |
Sobre o objeto
| Nome: | LHA 120-N 44, NGC 1929 |
| Tipo: | Local Universe : Nebula : Type : Star Formation |
| Distância: | 150000 anos-luz |
| Constellation: | Dorado |
Formatos de imagens
Papéis de parede
Coordenadas
| Position (RA): | 5 21 37.98 |
| Position (Dec): | -67° 54' 42.75" |
| Field of view: | 25.28 x 20.18 arcminutes |
| Orientação: | O norte está a 0.1° à direita da vertical |
Cores e filtros
| Banda | Telescópio |
|---|---|
| Raios X | Chandra X-ray Observatory |
| Óptico | MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope WFI |
| Infravermelho | Spitzer Space Telescope |
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