X-raying the beating heart of a newborn star

Chandra_517_1024

chandra_517 July 3rd, 2012

Credit: NASA/CXC/GSFC/K.Hamaguchi, et al

Using combined data from a trio of orbiting X-ray telescopes, including NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Japan-led Suzaku satellite, astronomers have obtained a rare glimpse of the powerful phenomena that accompany a still-forming star. A <a href="/press/12_releases/press_070312.html">new study</a> based on these observations indicates that intense magnetic fields drive torrents of gas into the stellar surface, where they heat large areas to millions of degrees. X-rays emitted by these hot spots betray the newborn star's rapid rotation, showing that it is spinning so quickly it is on the verge of breaking up.

Provider: Chandra X-ray Observatory

Image Source: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2012/v1647/

Curator: Chandra X-ray Observatory, Cambridge, MA, USA

Image Use Policy: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/image_use.html

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Image Details

Image Type
Artwork
Object Name
V1647 Ori
Subject - Milky Way
Star > Evolutionary Stage > Young Stellar Object

Distance

Universescale1
1,300 light years

Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 5h 46m 13.0s
DEC = 0° 6’ 5.0”
Constellation
Orion
Chandra_517_1280
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ID
517
Subject Category
B.3.1.2  
Subject Name
V1647 Ori
Credits
NASA/CXC/GSFC/K.Hamaguchi, et al
Release Date
2012-07-03
Lightyears
1,300
Redshift
1,300
Reference Url
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2012/v1647/
Type
Artwork
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Instrument
Color Assignment
Band
Bandpass
Central Wavelength
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
J2000
Reference Value
86.5542, -0.1014
Reference Dimension
Reference Pixel
Scale
Rotation
Coordinate System Projection:
Quality
Position
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
Chandra X-ray Observatory
URL
http://chandra.harvard.edu
Name
Chandra X-ray Observatory Center
Email
cxcpub@cfa.harvard.edu
Telephone
617.496.7941
Address
60 Garden St.
City
Cambridge
State/Province
MA
Postal Code
02138
Country
USA
Rights
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/image_use.html
Publisher
Chandra X-ray Observatory Center
Publisher ID
chandra
Resource ID
v1647.tif
Metadata Date
2013-09-05T16:14:03-04:00
Metadata Version
1.2
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Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

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Universescalefull
1,300 light years

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