M 82
M 82
M 82
M 82
M 83
M82
M82
M83
NGC 1313
NGC 2403
NGC 253
NGC 253
NGC 253
NGC 3628
NGC 4631
NGC 4631
NGC 4631
NGC 4666
NGC 4736
NGC 4945
NGC 5775
Starburst GalaxiesThese are galaxies in which a violent event, such as a collision with a companion galaxy, has caused a sudden, intense burst of star formation in the recent past. The rapid rate of supernova explosions in these galaxies produces expanding bubbles of multimillion degree gas. When the starburst is sufficiently intense, it can create a superbubble so hot and energetic that it expands out of the galaxy in what is called a superwind. Superwinds are thought to contain the carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, iron and other heavy elements dispersed by supernovae and spread these elements throughout the space between galaxies. X-ray observations provide a key for studying the formation and expansion of starburst winds and to measure the amounts of the heavy elements in the superwinds. [Ref 1] |
| M 82 | M 82 | M 82 | M 82 | M 83 |
| M82 | M82 | M83 | NGC 1313 | NGC 2403 |
| NGC 253 | NGC 253 | NGC 253 | NGC 3628 | NGC 4631 |
| NGC 4631 | NGC 4631 | NGC 4666 | NGC 4736 | NGC 4945 |
| NGC 5775 |