NASA's Chandra explains Treble Clef galaxy collision
Astronomers have identified the origin of a radio structure resembling a treble clef as the result of a supermassive black hole outburst and a subsequent galaxy cluster collision. Researchers used data from NASA's Chandra and other observatories to confirm the formation's history.
Why it matters
Understanding complex galactic structures provides insight into the evolution of the universe and the violent processes occurring in deep space.
Astronomers have traced the origins of an unusual radio structure resembling a musical treble clef to an ancient black hole outburst and the collision of two galaxy clusters, using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes.Nicknamed the “Treble Clef”, the formation was difficult to investigate because it lies almost directly behind the Milky Way’s disc, where stars, gas and dust obstruct observations. Researchers overcame this challenge by combining X-ray, radio and infrared data to study the region.Observations from Chandra and Germany’s eROSITA X-ray telescope revealed vast quantities of superheated gas, confirming the presence of a galaxy cluster.
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