銀河系に浮かぶ「神の手」、暗黒星雲の希少写真撮影
Rare photo taken of the dark nebula, the “Hand of God” floating in the galaxy
Rare photo taken of the dark nebula, the “Hand of God” floating in the galaxy
宇宙空間に幽霊の手が浮かび、渦巻銀河をつかもうとするかのように見える暗黒星雲の写真が、ダークエネルギーカメラを使って撮影された
A dark energy camera captures a photo of a dark nebula that appears to have a ghostly hand floating in space, trying to grab a spiral galaxy.
A dark energy camera captures a photo of a dark nebula that appears to have a ghostly hand floating in space, trying to grab a spiral galaxy.
滅多に見られない宇宙現象だと専門家は指摘している
Experts say this is a rare cosmic phenomenon.
Experts say this is a rare cosmic phenomenon.
「神の手」のようにも見えるこの写真は、地球から1300光年離れたとも座にある彗星(すいせい)状グロビュール「CG4」をとらえている
This photo, which looks like the ”hand of God,” captures the comet-like globule ”CG4” located 1,300 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lycancer.
This photo, which looks like the ”hand of God,” captures the comet-like globule ”CG4” located 1,300 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lycancer.
南米チリのセロ・トロロ汎米天文台にあるビクター・M・ブランコ4メートル望遠鏡で撮影された
This photo was taken with the Victor M. Blanco 4-meter telescope at the Cerro Tololo Pan-American Observatory in Chile, South America.
This photo was taken with the Victor M. Blanco 4-meter telescope at the Cerro Tololo Pan-American Observatory in Chile, South America.
彗星状グロビュールはボーク・グロビュールと呼ばれる暗黒星雲の一種
A comet-like globule is a type of dark nebula called a Bork globule.
A comet-like globule is a type of dark nebula called a Bork globule.
高密度のガスや塵(ちり)が、熱い高エネルギー物質に囲まれてできた星雲で、彗星のような尾が見えることから彗星状グロビュールと呼ばれる
A nebula made of high-density gas and dust surrounded by hot, high-energy matter, and is called a comet-like globule because it has a comet-like tail.
A nebula made of high-density gas and dust surrounded by hot, high-energy matter, and is called a comet-like globule because it has a comet-like tail.
銀河系ではCG4のような彗星状グロビュールが数多く発見されている
Many comet-like globules like CG4 have been discovered in the Milky Way.
Many comet-like globules like CG4 have been discovered in the Milky Way.
CG4は「ESO 257-19(PGC 21338)」と呼ばれる渦巻銀河の方に手を伸ばしているように見える
CG4 appears to be reaching towards a spiral galaxy called ”ESO 257-19 (PGC 21338)”
CG4 appears to be reaching towards a spiral galaxy called ”ESO 257-19 (PGC 21338)”
ただしこの銀河はCG4から1億光年以上も離れている
However, this galaxy is more than 100 million light years away from CG4.
However, this galaxy is more than 100 million light years away from CG4.
手のように見えるCG4の頭の部分は全長1.5光年
CG4’s head, which looks like a hand, has a total length of 1.5 light years.
CG4’s head, which looks like a hand, has a total length of 1.5 light years.
そこから8光年の長さの尾が伸びる
A tail eight light years long extends from there.
A tail eight light years long extends from there.
彗星状グロビュールは1976年に初めて発見されたが、極端な暗さのために観測が難しかった
Comet-like globules were first discovered in 1976, but their extreme darkness made them difficult to observe.
Comet-like globules were first discovered in 1976, but their extreme darkness made them difficult to observe.
しかしダークエネルギーカメラを使用すれば、電離水素が放出するかすかな赤い光を特殊なフィルターで感知できる
But with dark energy cameras, special filters can detect the faint red light emitted by ionized hydrogen.
But with dark energy cameras, special filters can detect the faint red light emitted by ionized hydrogen.
CG4の外縁部と頭の部分には、そうした光が存在している
Such light exists on the outer edge and head of CG4.
Such light exists on the outer edge and head of CG4.
水素は近くにある高温の巨大恒星から放射線を浴びた時のみ、そうした赤い光を放出する
Hydrogen only emits such red light when it is exposed to radiation from a nearby hot giant star.
Hydrogen only emits such red light when it is exposed to radiation from a nearby hot giant star.