Click here for a larger view Photo courtesy of NASA.
Long one of science fiction’s most popular subjects, the Andromeda galaxy has fascinated mankind for a long, long time. Our collective love for Andromeda is partially due to its relatively close proximity to our own Milky Way galaxy, but another reason we’re so partial to it is because it has always appeared to be a “perfect” spiral galaxy. But now we know that Andromeda isn’t quite so perfect after all.
Today’s picture features Andromeda as captured by NASA’s Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). The particular camera that “snapped” this shot was the shortest-wavelength camera on the spacecraft, an absolutely amazing device that detects infrared light on the scale of a minuscule 3.4 microns. At this tiny infrared wavelength, the resulting image clearly shows that the “perfect” spiral of Andromeda is actually warped along the galaxy’s upper-left edge (just to the left of center).
Although the affected region of the galaxy looks small in the photo, in reality it is thousands of light years across. The intergalactic collision that caused the warp surely wreaked havoc on countless “worlds” that resided in the affected region. It’s amazing what we can “see” when we finally learn how to “look” in a slightly different way.
Wow!!! What a fantastic image of Andromeda. I was an avid science fiction reader when I was growing up and I must have had 50 books with Andromeda on the cover. I love this photo!!!!
Wonderful photo today Rick! Unlike Eric, I was never really in to Sci Fi, but these space images are simply fantastic.
Breathtaking!!!!
What a magnificent universe we live in. Astounding really. Great photo today Mr. Rouse.
This picture has inspired me to head up to the attic and dig out my trunk full of sci fi paperbacks. I love it!
Fascinating!
Heavenly!!
I’ve been interested in both photography and astronomy since I was a boy, and I was thrilled to find this site mentioned in a blog post this morning. I’ve spent some time checking out your old blog posts, and I’ll definately be returning every day to see what’s new.
What a vivid blue color and a beautiful photo Rick!!
Welcome Gary, and we all look forward to your visits. You never know what kind of a picture will be featured, but it will always be good!
Wow!!