Credit: Sana et al (2005), Liège Astrophysical Institute (Belgium) and ESA
Color Open Cluster
A deep observation with the XMM-Newton Observatory has given astronomers one of the most detailed views of the X-ray emission from a birthplace of massive stars, the open cluster NGC 6231 which lies at the heart of the Scorpius OB1 association. The image above shows an
upclose view of NGC 6231 in X-rays, in which color stands for X-ray energy: blue for high energy X-rays, red for low-energy X-rays. The brightest source, at the center of the image above, is a massive binary system in which the X-ray emission arises from the collision of the wind from one star with the wind of its companion. Other stars may be "hidden binaries" in which the companion's presence might only be revealed by the X-rays generated in the wind-wind collision zone. X-rays from single massive stars is believed to arise from pockets of hot shocked gas embedded in the stars wind, though astronomers still don't understand the details of this process.
Last Week *
HEA Dictionary * Archive
* Search HEAPOW
* Education
Each week the HEASARC
brings you new, exciting and beautiful images from X-ray and Gamma ray
astronomy. Check back each week and be sure to check out the HEAPOW archive!
Last modified Tuesday, 27-Feb-2024 10:10:12 EST
