Galactic Center Star Clusters (APOD 10 Aug 2006)

Comments and questions about the APOD on the main view screen.
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lowpsi
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Galactic Center Star Clusters (APOD 10 Aug 2006)

Post by lowpsi » Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:17 pm

Does anyone have any idea what would cause the comet like item near picture center?

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iamlucky13
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Post by iamlucky13 » Thu Aug 10, 2006 9:13 pm

I'm not sure I understand since the whole structure appears somewhat comet-like. I suppose perhaps you are referring to a smaller white streak aligned about 30 degrees from horizontal just below the middle of the frame?

My first thought was an x-ray jet from a black hole, but in retrospect I think an x-ray jet would have to be pointed roughly at us to be directly detected. However, it may also be an x-ray jet interacting with interstellar gas. Since it appears to be nearly white, it is presumably a mix of high, medium, and low energy x-rays (shown in blue, green, and red). Perhaps it is a star cluster shadowed by closer features in the galactic core, or perhaps it's a more distant x-ray source that has been gravitationally lensed.
"Any man whose errors take ten years to correct is quite a man." ~J. Robert Oppenheimer (speaking about Albert Einstein)

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orin stepanek
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Post by orin stepanek » Thu Aug 10, 2006 9:23 pm

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060810.html
The streak in the middle does indeed look comet like; but given the distande it is probably larger than our solar system. :roll:
Orin

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Qev
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Post by Qev » Thu Aug 10, 2006 9:59 pm

I seem to recall those structures being called 'filaments' (though I could be misremembering), and that astrophysicists weren't entirely sure what the heck was causing them. :)
Don't just stand there, get that other dog!

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BMAONE23
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Post by BMAONE23 » Fri Aug 11, 2006 1:43 pm

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap050403.html

Qev
This one is what I believe you are refering to. And I believe you're right about the filaments

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