Radio Galaxy 3C368

Radio Galaxy 3C368.

The radio and optical emission seen in the above superimposed images of the radio galaxy 3C368 indicate that energetic processes are at work. The optical light is shown in red, and radio emissions are in blue contours. One can only guess what causes the unusual features. Scientists working with the Hubble Space Telescope speculate that the radio emission might have resulted from jets of high-velocity material thrown off from the center of the galaxy, while the optical light comes from gas and dust that are remnants of a burst of star formation triggered by the radio jet.

w.wu 2000-2005