Recently, a team of researchers led by Case Western Reserve University astronomers have found a brand-new cloud of ionized gas associated with the Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as Messier 51a, M51a and NGC 5194.
The cloud is about 26 million light-years away, and may give insight into the behavior of a supermassive black hole and how it consumes and ‘recycles’ hydrogen gas.
The cloud itself is around 81,500 by 24,460 light-years in size and is located 104,370 light-years north of Whirlpool Galaxy’s center. It was seen using the Burrell Schmidt Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory.
Quote from Professor Chris Mihos, Case Western Reserve University, “The discovery’s role in more clearly understanding how galaxies eject and ‘recycle’ their gas and stars will be determined in the coming years as more researchers dig into information that had been there all along — even if unseen until now.”
Read more about this fascinating story at: www.sci-news.com
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