The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured some new images of the barred spiral galaxy known as NGC 6000. It is a giant of the cosmos some 100 million light-years away in the constellation Scorpius. The images showcase a dramatic contrast between its shining yellow central bulge and sparkling blue spiral arms.
Colours as Cosmic Clues
The middle of NGC 6000 galaxy, shines with the golden light of warm colour. It is the result of billions of low-mass and long-lived stars that control the galaxy's inner bulge. They burn in a steadier but cooler manner than their heavy brethren.
In dramatic contrast, the spiral arms are speckled with bright blue dots. These brief and enormous stars burn intensely prior to their death in cataclysmic supernovae. These colour contrasts are a treasured signpost, allowing astronomers to deduce the age, make-up and temperature.
A Galaxy with Explosive History
NGC 6000 is no quiet island of stars. It is a Seyfert II galaxy, its active core suggesting high-energy activity in the form of a central supermassive black hole. The galaxy also has cataclysmic stellar fatalities in its recent past. Two supernovae — SN 2007ch and SN 2010as have been seen among its spiral arms. Both of them outshine the galaxy's entire starlight for brief intervals. Such events give astronomers good chances to observe the life cycle of giant stars.
Unravelling the Galaxy's Evolution
Through the observation of galaxies like NGC 6000, researchers have revealed about how galactic growth and development work. Galaxies become more sophisticated with cosmic age and recycle material across multiple generations of stars. This image of NGC 6000 by Hubble provides a glimpse into stellar beauty. It also contributes to the ongoing process of charting the life history of galaxies across the Universe.
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