The Galaxy adjacent to the Milky Way experienced massive explosions, resulting in a cosmic hurricane. Astronomers observed the most powerful emissions of a substance equivalent to 50 million solar masses bombarding the space between galaxies, creating a storm of chemical elements. These elements, considered the “building blocks,” are expected to give rise to new worlds and stellar systems.
Using the Muse of the VLT giant telescope, astronomers captured in detail this grandiose event known as “galactic pollution.” The elements dispersed in all directions are set to create a star garden where billions of new luminaries are expected to form.
The observations took place in the NGC 4383 spiral galaxy, located in the constellation known as Veronica’s Hair, approximately 62 million light years away. NGC 4383, part of the Virgo Cluster, is undergoing a peculiar and violent evolution, emitting a powerful stream of gas spanning 20,000 light years. This gas stream, containing significant amounts of hydrogen and heavier elements, moves at an astonishing speed of around 671,000 miles per hour.
According to Adam Watts, head of the research group from the University of Western Australia, the ejected gas is rich in heavy elements, offering a unique insight into the intricate process of hydrogen and metals mixing in the outflowing gas. Various elements such as oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur were detected in the stream.
These cosmic flows play a vital role in the evolution of space by serving as the foundational elements for the next generation of stars, planets, moons, and potentially even life on these celestial bodies.
The significant gas outflow from this relatively nearby galaxy is believed to be a result of intense star explosions in its core triggered by a surge in star formation. Massive stars formed during this period shed mass through powerful winds, eventually culminating in supernova explosions after millions of years.
The research conducted by the team was documented in the April 22 edition of the journal “Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.”