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A festive array of bright pinks and blues makes for a remarkable sight in this image captured with the Gemini North telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory. Resembling a cloud of cosmic confetti, this image is being released in celebration of Gemini North’s 25th anniversary. NGC 4449 is a prime example of starburst activity caused by the interacting and mingling of galaxies as it slowly absorbs its smaller galactic neighbors.
All stars, even the Sun, are born from vast clouds of gas and dust, and when they die, their remnants are recycled back into the galaxy, providing fuel for new stars. When the Universe began there was only hydrogen and a tiny amount of helium present but the fusion process inside stars creates new, heavier elements. This includes every atom inside you and me, the planets and even the computer screen you are reading this on.
The stellar stream in the halo of the nearby dwarf starburst galaxy NGC 4449 is resolved into its individual starry constituents in this exquisite image taken with the 8.2-meter Subaru Telescope and Suprime-Cam. Image credit: R. Jay GaBany and Aaron J. Romanowsky in collaboration with David Martinez-Delgado and NAOJ. Image processed by R. Jay GaBany
Such levels of star formation are reminiscent of the star formation in galaxies in the early Universe. The driving force here was galaxy mergers and accretions. It is thought the burst of activity in NGC4449 is the result of a galactic merger or interaction with a neighbour.
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See a starburst galaxy, ablaze with explosive star birth, devouring dwarf galaxies (video)Robert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.
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