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Astronomers Discover Dizzying Spin of the Milky Way Galaxy’s “Halo”

2017-12-08

NASA

NASA
Washington, DC, United States

Our Milky Way galaxy and its small companions are surrounded by a giant halo of million-degree gas (seen in blue in this artists' rendition) that is only visible to X-ray telescopes in space. University of Michigan astronomers discovered that this massive hot halo spins in the same direction as the Milky Way disk and at a comparable speed.

Read more: go.nasa.gov/29VgLdK

Credit: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss/Ohio State/A Gupta et al

NASA image use policy.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

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  • Title: Astronomers Discover Dizzying Spin of the Milky Way Galaxy’s “Halo”
  • Date Created: 2017-12-08
  • Location: Greenbelt, MD
  • Rights: GSFC
  • Album: ayoung
NASA

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