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Halo Around A Faraway Galaxy

Chandra X-ray Observatory image of a hot gas halo around galaxy NGC-4631 Image by NASA Chandra X-ray Observatory
Click for a larger image
A snapshot by the Chandra X-ray Observatory, one of NASA's Great Observatories in Space, on April 15, 2000, shows a halo of hot gas around galaxy NGC-4631, which is something like our own Milky Way galaxy.

Chandra's black, purple and blue image is from data that is the first unambiguous evidence for a halo around NGC-4631. Astronomers have been wondering whether our own Milky Way may have a similar halo. Chandra pictures may provide some answers.

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