NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory recently marked its 25th anniversary by releasing an image of the massive galaxy NGC 6872. This spiral galaxy, also known as the Condor Galaxy, resides in the Pavo or Peacock constellation.
The observatory, which was launched on July 23, 1999, is named in honor of the Indian astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. Compared to its predecessors, the Chandra X-ray Telescope delivers images with a hundred times more precision.
NGC 6872 spans an impressive 520,000 light-years in diameter, making it over five times the size of our Milky Way. Previously, it held the record for the largest known spiral galaxy until it was surpassed by NGC 262, which has a diameter of 1.3 million light-years. The image released shows NGC 6872 merging with a smaller galaxy, IC 4970, which appears to be pulling gas and other materials from the larger galaxy.
The observatory’s advanced capabilities have allowed scientists to capture detailed images of these distant cosmic structures, contributing significantly to our understanding of the universe. The Chandra X-ray Observatory continues to be a vital tool in the exploration of space, revealing the intricate and vast nature of galaxies like NGC 6872.
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