Criss-crossing streams of superheated gas create a “chaotic landscape” in a distant galaxy cluster.
from NASA Chandra X-ray Telescope detected two new streams of gas behind a galaxy within a cluster called Zwicky 8338, or Z8338, located about 670 million light years from Land. Together, the two streams form a huge, comet-like tail of hot gas that stretches across 1.6 million light years, according to a statement of the space agency.
The recent observations build on previous findings within the galaxy cluster, where a pair of shorter tails measuring just 800,000 light years long had been seen behind a different galaxy. The new Chandra images show that these streams trailing behind each of the galaxies have crossed each other.
“Z8338 is a chaotic landscape of galaxies, superheated gas and shock waves (similar to sonic explosions created by supersonic jets) in a relatively small region of space,” NASA officials said in the statement.
Related: Stunning photographs from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory
Criss-crossing gas streams may help explain galaxy cluster evolution. Gas shed from a galaxy as it travels through the cluster creates a tail of superheated gas. This tail can split into two parts when it crosses another gas stream. The gas within the detached tail can fuel the formation of new stars and planets. Therefore, it is believed that this interaction (the crossing of streams) can lead to the creation of new structures within a group, according to the statement.
“This new composite image shows this spectacle,” NASA officials said.
X-ray data captured by Chandra (represented in purple) highlight pockets of superheated gas within the cluster and their position behind the moving galaxies. The image also includes optical data for individual galaxies in the Dark energy surveyconducted using the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile.
The pair of shorter tails are outlined vertically in the new image, while the longer tails have a more horizontal orientation. Chadra's advanced capabilities allowed deeper observations that revealed the faintest X-rays from the newest and longest set of tails.
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