An immense explosion of cosmic gas has been observed at the core of a distant galaxy. This colossal event, known as a “gas outflow,” spans approximately 20,000 light-years, which is about one-fifth of the diameter of the Milky Way galaxy. The discovery was detailed in a recent report published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
The extraordinary phenomenon was identified within the galaxy NGC 4383, located around 54 million light-years away in the nearby Virgo cluster. Gas is seen streaming out from the heart of the galaxy at a velocity exceeding 447,000 miles per hour. These gas outflows, driven by highly energetic events like supernovae, have a substantial impact on their host galaxies by controlling star formation.
The outflow in NGC 4383 is believed to be a result of massive stellar explosions near the galaxy’s center, ejecting significant amounts of hydrogen gas and other elements. The study estimates that the explosions have propelled the equivalent of up to 50 million suns’ worth of gas outwards. This expulsion of gas, rich in heavy elements, offers unique insights into the intricate process of mixing between hydrogen and metals in the outflowing gas.
Researchers have produced a detailed map of the explosion, aiming to unravel the mysteries surrounding how chemical elements disseminate in the space between galaxies and the repercussions of gas loss on galaxies. This data was collected through the MAUVE (MUSE and ALMA Unveiling the Virgo Environment) survey, utilizing the MUSE Integral Field Spectrograph at the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in northern Chile.
The MAUVE project was devised to investigate how physical phenomena such as gas outflows influence the cessation of star formation in galaxies. NGC 4383 was the initial target due to suspicions of intriguing activities, and the data surpassed all expectations. The researchers hope that future MAUVE observations will provide detailed insights into the significance of gas outflows in the local Universe.
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