Image ssc2007-06a

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Image Gallery > Astronomical Images > Galaxies and the Universe > ssc2007-06a

X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Maryland/A.S. Wilson et al.; Optical: Pal.Obs. DSS; IR: NASA/JPL-Caltech; VLA: NRAO/AUI/NSF

Anomalous Arms

In this composite image of spiral galaxy M106 (NGC 4258), optical data from the Digitized Sky Survey is shown as yellow, radio data from the Very Large Array appears as purple, X-ray data from Chandra is coded blue, and infrared data from the Spitzer Space Telescope appears red. Two anomalous arms, which aren't visible at optical wavelengths, appear as purple and blue emission.

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About the Object (1)
Object name: Messier 106, NGC 4258
Object type: Spiral Galaxy
Position (J2000): RA: 12h 18m 57.50s Dec: 47° 18' 14.30"
Distance: 23.5 million light-years
Constellation: Canes Venatici

About the Data

Spitzer Data

Image Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Maryland/A.S. Wilson et al.; Optical: Pal.Obs. DSS; IR: NASA/JPL-Caltech; VLA: NRAO/AUI/NSF
Wavelength: X-ray (blue); Optical (gold); IR (red); Radio (purple)
Image scale: 9.2 x 7.5 arcmin.
Release Date: 2007/04/10

Observers

Yang, Li, Wilson, Reynolds, ApJ, May 10 issue; Chandra Observations and the Nature of the Anomalous Arms of NGC 4258 (M106). Wilson, A.S., Yang,Y., Cecil, G., 2001, ApJ, 560, 689W

Additional Info

Press Release: Mystery Spiral Arms Explained?

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