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About the Image
About the Object
Color Mapping
Astrometrics
Unmasking a Hidden Glow
This image shows a mysterious, background infrared glow captured by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Using Spitzer, researchers were able to detect this background glow, which spreads across the whole sky, by masking out light from galaxies and other known sources of light (the masks are the gray, blotchy marks).
The scientists find that this light is coming from stray stars that were torn away from galaxies. When galaxies tangle and merge -- a natural stage of galaxy growth -- stars often get kicked out in the process. The stars are too faint to be seen individually, but Spitzer may be seeing their collective glow.
Related Media
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News Release NASA'S Spitzer Sees Light Of Lonesome Stars ssc2012-14 |
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Image Unmasking a Hidden Glow ssc2012-14a |
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Image Spitzer Sees Stray Starlight ssc2012-14b |
Image Components
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Image Botes Field in Infrared ssc2012-14a1 |
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Image Unmasking a Hidden Glow ssc2012-14a2 |
