Cosmic Outflow in NGC 4383 Sheds Light on Galactic Pollution Processes
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 22, 2024 -
A recent study has unveiled a massive gas outflow in galaxy NGC 4383 within the Virgo cluster, so expansive that light would require 20,000 years to traverse it from end to end. This phenomenon was detailed in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.Dr. Adam Watts of The University of Western Australia node at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), and lead researcher, explained that the outflow results from intense stellar explosions in the galaxy's core, capable of propelling vast quantities of hydrogen and other elements outward.
The volume of expelled gas rivals the mass of over 50 million Suns. "Outflows are generally elusive, making their physics and properties challenging to study," noted Dr. Watts. "However, this outflow's richness in heavy elements like oxygen, nitrogen, and sulphur provides a rare insight into the mixing dynamics of hydrogen and metals in such ejections."
These gas outflows play a critical role in regulating star formation within galaxies by distributing 'pollutant' elements across the interstellar and intergalactic spaces, potentially halting further stellar development.
The data contributing to this discovery comes from the MAUVE survey, led by ICRAR's Professors Barbara Catinella and Luca Cortese, who utilized the MUSE Integral Field Spectrograph at the Very Large Telescope in Chile. "MAUVE is designed to explore how processes like gas outflows contribute to the cessation of star formation in galaxies," said Professor Catinella. "Our initial observations of NGC 4383 have surpassed our expectations, highlighting the significant impact of these outflows."
The findings promise to enhance understanding of galactic dynamics through continued MAUVE observations in the local Universe.
Research Report:MAUVE: A 6 kpc bipolar outflow launched from NGC4383, one of the most Hi-rich galaxies in the Virgo cluster