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Astronomers Spot Galaxy Releasing Gassy 'Superwind'
from the Christian Science Monitor
A striking galaxy buzzing with energetic star formation takes center stage in a new photograph that showcases an unusual "superwind" of out-flowing gas, researchers say.
The starburst galaxy NGC 4666, located about 80 million light-years away from Earth, is a hotbed of intense star formation, which is thought to be caused by gravitational interactions between NGC 4666 and its neighboring galaxies, one of which is visible in the lower left of the new photo.
Gravitational interactions between galaxies often trigger the type of rigorous star formation seen in NGC 4666. Strong winds from the massive stars inside NGC 4666, combined with supernova explosions, drive a robust flow of gas--a so-called "superwind"--from the galaxy into space, according to the European Southern Observatory where astronomers took the new photo.
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