Check out this incredible photo of a “galaxy-eating monster”
This incredible shot shows us a kind of titanic cosmic monster which looks like it is about to devour a galaxy. As you can imagine, the reality is quite different. Explanation.
Is it some kind of gigantic cosmic worm ready to swallow a galaxy? Or the famous Galactus , the devourer of the world ready to gobble up a system that asked nothing of anyone? The answer is quite different.
?A galaxy-eating monster
Admittedly, the reality is less frightening, but you will certainly be surprised at the explanation of such a cliché, but this photo still teaches us a lot. And as an image is (sometimes) better than explanations, this shot teaches us a lot…
So, there would be cosmic forms more mysterious and even more dangerous than supermassive black holes? The latter being the heaviest celestial objects in the universe to such an extent that they distort space-time and capture any matter or radiation without giving them a single chance to escape. Terrifying isn't it?
A distorted view
In view of this incredible shot , we would therefore almost have the impression that “Galaxy Eater” is even more dangerous. Fortunately, it is mainly the angle of view as well as our human vision that misleads us somewhat. We will explain everything to you.
According to astrophysicist Eric Lagadec, astrophysicist at the Observatory of the Côte d'Azur and specialist in stardust (that's good), we are not dealing with a potential Galactus. It's less fun but reassuring.
A cloud of star formation
"A monster that will eat a galaxy? No, a globule of gas and dust where stars are forming in our galaxy which, by projection effect, seems close to a galaxy much more distant!"
There are several celestial objects of this type in space. These places of star formation , like the Magellanic Clouds , are made up largely of gas and stardust. These substances having previously been dispersed in space because of a past supernova, for example, constitute the raw material of new stars in formation.
In addition, astronomers had discovered this type of star formation sites in a previous photo by James Webb . This shot of the Carina Nebula, nicknamed "cosmic cliffs", finally contained stars in the process of being born .
Source: websites