Stunning new Herschel and XMM-Newton image
April 18, 2012
Combining almost opposite ends of the electromagnetic spectrum, this composite of the Herschel in far-infrared and XMM-Newton’s X-ray images shows how the hot young stars detected by the X-ray observations are sculpting and interacting with the surrounding ultra-cool gas and dust, which, at only a few degrees above absolute zero, is the critical material for star formation itself. Both wavelengths would be blocked by Earth’s atmosphere, so are critical to our understanding of the lifecycle of stars
Topics:
Spacecraft, Electromagnetic radiation, Space telescopes, Space exploration, European Space Agency, Environment, GRB 031203, Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey, XMM, Herschel Space Observatory, Infrared, XMM-Newton, Spaceflight, X-ray
