Wednesday, December 19, 2007

News From NASA.. Seeing is Believing

** 3C321: 'DEATH STAR' GALAXY BLACK HOLE FIRES AT NEIGHBORING GALAXY
A powerful jet from a supermassive black hole is blasting a nearby galaxy, according to new results from NASA. This galactic violence, never seen before, could have a profound effect on any planets in the path of the jet and trigger a burst of star formation in the wake of its destruction. Known as 3C321, the system contains two galaxies in orbit around each other. Chandra X-ray Observatory data show that both galaxies contain super massive black holes at their centers, but the larger galaxy has a jet emanating from the vicinity of its black hole. The smaller galaxy has apparently swung into the path of this jet.
Please click to see the breath taking photo (Please cut and paste this URL if you are not taken there immediately)
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2007/3c321/