HUBBLE ATLAS

Galaxies

Panning across the filaments of NGC 1275

August 20, 2008 · ESA/Hubble

Original on ESA/Hubble ↗

The red filaments seen near the centre are fine threads of gas up to 20 000 light-years long but only 200 light-years wide. They are sustained by magnetic fields, with the thinner threads requiring more support.