Posted on 10/09/2024 8:31:55 AM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: What's happening at the center of spiral galaxy M106? A swirling disk of stars and gas, M106's appearance is dominated by blue spiral arms and red dust lanes near the nucleus, as shown in the featured image taken from the Kuwaiti desert. The core of M106 glows brightly in radio waves and X-rays where twin jets have been found running the length of the galaxy. An unusual central glow makes M106 one of the closest examples of the Seyfert class of galaxies, where vast amounts of glowing gas are thought to be falling into a central massive black hole. M106, also designated NGC 4258, is a relatively close 23.5 million light years away, spans 60 thousand light years across, and can be seen with a small telescope towards the constellation of the Hunting Dogs (Canes Venatici).
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔
Posting earlier than usual because I am in the path of Hurricane Milton and am getting it posted before power goes out. I will catch up on the posts when power is restored.
Odd center caused by climate change?
Awesome.
Prayers up FRiend.
“An unusual central glow makes M106 one of the closest examples of the Seyfert class of galaxies, where vast amounts of glowing gas are thought to be falling into a central massive black hole.”
Eh?
Isn’t a Seyfert galaxy one where the stars are close enough that the additional heat from a nova slightly warms up nearby stars accelerating their fusion, shortening their lives and starts a star novae chain reaction?
No black hole needed.
Thanks for posting this. I love astronomy and am constantly amazed - and in awe - at the size and distances discussed.
I hope you don’t have too rough of a ride. Stay safe, and see you on the other side.🙏
Godspeed and stay safe, MtnClimber. First priority is the safety of you and your family. Hoping the hurricane makes a course correction. Check in when the danger is past.
Thanks for the thoughts. I live in an area with lots of big trees. The oak trees always fall across power lines. I don’t have any hope the power will remain on. Likely I will be out with my neighbors with chain saws getting the roads cleared just like what happened after Hurricane Ian. If I don’t post the APOD thread it means power is still off. Power could be off for days.
I feel for you, man. Be safe. I’ve told my sisters that we have all have concerns for each other at different times of the year. For me, it’s winter storms and tornadoes. We stay prepped for those all year. Basement for the tornadoes, generator for the winter storms. And sometimes we need the generator for the summer storms that blow through. I live on a very wooded property but elevated. Visitors sometimes say it’s like living in a tree house, with a great view below us. In tornadoes, that’s not good, but at least we have the basement to retreat to.
My sisters, SIL, and one brother all live in hurricane country. All but one have a generator. Not sure why they have never gotten one. I guess they don’t lose power all that often.
We do, at least a couple of times a year. Usually not longer than a day or two. The last time that happened it was out for 8 days. We managed that year, and it was before we moved here.
I don’t relish anyone in this storm’s path. Be safe!
The wind and rain are starting to pick up. I expect the power to go off soon. Batteries for all my cordless tools are charged. Flashlights are charged. I have plywood and 2X4s in the garage in case I need to cover a broken window. My cell phone is constantly getting tornado warnings now. I let my dogs go outside during any breaks. They are not going to like all of this.
Safety first.
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