Andromeda’s galaxy, also known as Messier 31 (M31), is the spiral galaxy closest to the Milky Way at a distance of around 2.5 million light years. Astronomers use Andromeda to understand the structure and evolution of our own spiral, which is much more difficult to do since the earth is anchored inside the Milky Way.
The Galaxy M31 has played an important role in many aspects of astrophysics, but in particular in the discovery of dark matter. In the 1960s, the astronomer Vera Rubin and his colleagues studied M31 and determined that there was an invisible question in the galaxy which affected the way the galaxy and his spiral arms were turned. This unknown material was named “Dark Matter”. Its nature remains one of the biggest questions open in astrophysics today, the one to which the Nancy Grace Romanesque spatial telescope of NASA is designed to help respond.
This new composite image contains data from M31 taken by some of the most powerful telescopes in the world in different types of light. This image includes X-rays of the Chandra X-ray observatory from NASA and Xmm-Newton from the ESA space agency (European Space Agency) (represented in red, green and blue); The ultraviolet data of Galex retired from NASA (Blue); Optical data of astrophotographers using ground telescopes (Jakob Sahner and Tarun Kottary); Infrared data from the NASA Spitzer Spitzer Spitzer, Satellite of Infrared Astronomy, Cobe, Planck and Herschel (Red, Orange and Violet); And the radio design of the WesterBork synthetic radiotelescope (red-orange).
Each type of light reveals new information on this close galactic compared to the Milky Way. For example, Chandra’s radiographs reveal high energy radiation around the supermassive black hole in the center of M31 as well as many other smaller compact objects scattered through the galaxy. A recent article on the observations of Chandra of M31 deals with the quantity of X -ray produced by the black Supermassive hole in the center of the galaxy in the past 15 years. A push was observed in 2013, which seems to represent an amplification of the typical radiographs observed in the black hole.
These multiple wavelength data sets are also published in the form of sonification, which includes the same data wavelengths in the new composite. In the Sonification, the layer of each telescope was separated and turned so that they pile up on each other horizontally, starting with X -rays at the top, then moving with ultraviolet, optics, infrared and radio at the bottom. As the scan moves from left to right in the sonification, each type of light is mapped to a different range of notes, low -energy radio waves through the high energy of X -rays. Meanwhile, the brightness of each source controls the volume and the vertical location dictates the height.
This new image of M31 is released in homage to the revolutionary heritage of Dr. Vera Rubin, whose observations have transformed our understanding of the universe. The meticulous measures of Rubin of the Andromeda rotation curve provided some of the oldest and most convincing evidence that galaxies are integrated into solid halos of invisible materials – which we now call dark matter. His work has challenged the longtime hypotheses and catalyzed a new research era on the composition and dynamics of the cosmos. In recognition of its deep scientific contributions, the United States Mint recently published a quarter in 2025 with Rubin as part of its American Women Quarters program – making it the first honored astronomer in the series.
The Marshall Space Flight Center of NASA in Huntsville, in Alabama, manages the Chandra program. The X-ray center of Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory controls the scientific operations of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the flight operations from Burlington, Massachusetts.
Find out more about the Chandra’s radiography observatory and its mission here:
https://chandra.si.edu
This version presents several images and a video of sonification examining the Galaxy of Andromeda, our neighbor of Galaxy in the nearest spiral. This collection helps astronomers understand the evolution of the Milky Way, our own spiral galaxy, and provides a fascinating overview of the collection and presentation of astronomical data.
Like all spiral galaxies seen at this distance and at this angle, Andromeda seems relatively flat. His spiral arms revolve around a brilliant nucleus, creating a disc shape, like a large dinner plate. In most images in this collection, the flat surface of Andromeda is tilted to cope with our top left.
This collection presents data from some of the most powerful telescopes in the world, each capturing light in a different spectrum. In each spectrum spectrum image, Andromeda has a similar shape and orientation, but the colors and details are radically different.
In the radio waves, the spiral arms seem red and orange, like a burning and rolled rope. The center seems black, without discernible nucleus. In the infrared light, the outer arms are also ardent. Here, a white spiral ring surrounds a blue center with a small gold nucleus. The optical image is misty and gray, with spiral arms like faded smoke rings. Here, the darkness of the space is dotted with spots of light, and a small luminous point shines in the heart of the galaxy. In the ultraviolet light, the spiral arms are blue and frozen white, with a crumb white ball in the heart. No spiral arm is present in the image of X -rays, which makes the golden nucleus shiny and the stars nearby and easy to study.
In this version, spectrum spectrum images are presented side by side for an easy comparison. They are also combined in a composite image. In the composite, the spiral arms of Andromeda are the color of the red wine near the outer edges and the lavender near the center. The nucleus is large and bright, surrounded by a group of bright and green blue spots. Other small spots in a variety of colors dot the galaxy and the darkness of the space around it.
This version also has a thirty -second video, which sounds the data collected. In the video, the unique spectrum images are stacked vertically, one at the top of the other. Over the video, an activation line sweeps away the stacked images from left to right. Music notes sound when the line meets light. The lower the energy of the wavelength, the lower the steps of the notes. The more bright the source, the greater the volume.
Megan Watzke
Chandra X X -ray center
Cambridge, mass.
617-496-7998
mwatzke@cfa.harvard.edu
Figueroa
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama
256-544-0034
lane.e.figueroa@nasa.gov
