Explosions in a galaxy near the Milky Way have caught the attention of astronomers, as they have observed the release of material equivalent to 50 million suns into the galaxy’s surroundings. The galaxy in question, NGC 4383, located in the Virgo Cluster, is spewing out gas at incredible speeds of up to 671,000 miles per hour, stretching across 20,000 light-years.
Astronomers utilized high-resolution instruments such as the VLT and MUSE to map this galactic pollution event in detail. The gas jet consists of various elements, including hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur, which are essential for the formation of new stars, planets, and potentially life in the cosmos.
The team behind the research believes that these outflows are the result of powerful stellar explosions from intense star formation processes within the galaxy. The study, part of the MAUVE survey, aimed to investigate how gas outflows impact star formation in galaxies.
The findings of the team were recently published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, shedding light on the importance of these outflows for the evolution of the universe. This discovery highlights the interconnected nature of galaxies and their role in the creation of new celestial bodies.
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