Billows of Smog in the Outer Galaxy
Explanation:
Our Galaxy is filled with
gas.
Most of this gas is
hydrogen,
some is
helium, but there is a trace amount of
relatively heavy molecules, including
carbon monoxide (CO) - a component of
smog.
The
above wide-angle radio CO image shows the
incredibly
diverse structures that the molecular
interstellar medium forms.
Dense clouds show where stars may be
forming and
open voids may indicate the action of strong
winds from
massive, recently formed stars.
This
FCRAO Outer Galaxy Survey was
recently re-processed at the
Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory for inclusion in the
Canadian Galactic Plane Survey, an international effort to map all constituents of the
interstellar medium over large scales at
high angular resolution.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
