Cumbrian Sky

Wow, this is a heck of a story - and more proof that any ways mankind can think up to destroy itself pale into insignificance compared to the many ways the universe itself has of obliterating things...

This is from THE TIMES:

A “Death Star” galaxy, in which a powerful jet from a supermassive black hole is blasting thousands, if not millions, of planets, has been observed by astronomers for the first time (Mark Henderson writes).

The jet of radiation is pummelling a small nearby galaxy, damaging any planets in its path and probably destroying life on any that are habitable. The remarkable events in the 3C321 system, which lies 1.4 billion light years away in the constellation of Serpens, has been captured using three of Nasa’s orbiting telescopes, including the Hubble, and two Earth-based observatories. The system has been nicknamed the “Death Star” galaxy after the battle-station from the Star Wars movies, which carried a laser beam that could destroy planets.

The 3C321 system contains two galaxies just 20,000 light years apart. The larger of the two galaxies has a supermassive black hole at its heart, producing a jet of high-energy X-rays and gamma rays, and particles travelling at close to the speed of light, which is hitting the smaller galaxy. While this may not be sufficiently powerful to blow planets to smithereens like the Imperial Death Star, the effect on any life in its path would be similar.

There's an even more detailed write-up on the BBC's ever-reliable Sci-Tech website.

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• #1 Comment from memes121 
  12/18/07 10:05 AM | Permalink

  Where's Luke when you need him. Tammy