Four
telescope arrays combined to create this composite image of spiral galaxy M106.
The
Digitized Sky Survey provides optical data in yellow, or what a powerful set of
eyes might see in the visible range of light. But the three other telescope
arrays provide additional views of the galaxy through the lens of radio waves,
x-rays, and infrared.
Radio waves
appear purple in the view of the Very Large Array, showing stars and supernovas
that might otherwise remain hidden. X-ray data from Chandra is coded blue and suggests
extremely hot temperatures from celestial events. Together, they reveal two
strange galaxy arms in purple and blue that otherwise are not visible at
optical wavelengths.
Finally, red
infrared data from the Spitzer Space Telescope picks up on the heat radiation
signature from the galaxy. Even cooler objects, such as small, dim stars or
planets that don't appear in visible light, may shine brightly in Spitzer's
view.
— NASA/JPL-Caltech and SPACE.com Staff
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech; X-ray: CXC/Univ.
of Maryland/A.S. Wilson et al.; Optical: Pal.Obs. DSS; IR: VLA:
NRAO/AUI/NSF
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