ESO astronomers share galaxy images that look like fireworks

A team of astronomers from the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has released several new galaxy observations that look like a colorful fireworks explosion in the sky. The image is obtained using a very large ESL telescope (VLT) and shows a different component of each galaxy in different colors. Some colors allow astronomers to determine the location of the young stars and warm gas they produce around them.

Data collected in observations compared to data taken from Alma in an effort to learn more about what triggers gas to form stars. Astronomers know the stars born in the gas cloud, but the right process that starts the star formation is a mystery. The researchers observed the closest variety of galaxies using a strong telescope both in the soil and in space, looking for areas involved in the starfront.

For the first time, astronomers can resolve each star formation unit in various locations and the environment. Galaxy samples are being studied with various types of galaxies spread throughout the universe. The researchers have directly observed the gas that gave birth to stars and saw the young stars themselves.

They can also watch the evolution of stars through various phases. The picture above was released by the researchers and representing a series of recent galaxy scans taken using Muse instruments on the VLT ESO. This instrument is used to track newborn stars and warm gas around them. The gas is illuminated and heated by the stars and is considered a smoking gun that shows the ongoing star formation.

The pictures are being combined with the observations of the same galaxy taken with Alma released earlier this year. Alma specializes in mapping cold gas clouds which are part of the galaxy that provides raw materials for star formation. The combination of data allows astronomers to check the galaxy area where the star formation is happening and compares that data to the expected star formation place.