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Lyman-alpha blob 1

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Polarized image of LAB-1, shown as the faint, green gas cloud.

Lyman-alpha blob 1 (LAB-1) is a giant cosmic cloud of gas located at the southern constellation of Aquarius, some 11.5 billion light-years from Earth. It was discovered in 2000.[1]

Left: Lyman alpha blob-1 as seen in Lyman-alpha (yellow), infrared (red) and ultraviolet (blue). The round blue object at the upper left of the blob is a giant galaxy. Right: Artist's impression of how the blob may look like if viewed from relatively close.

LAB-1 is the first discovered, and is the prototype of the class of objects called Lyman-alpha blobs[1]—huge concentrations of gases emitting the Lyman-alpha emission line of hydrogen. It is also the largest of its kind, measuring 300,000 light years across, four times larger than the Milky Way.[2] The blob appears green on the image because of the combination of the high redshift (z = 3) and the ultraviolet nature of the blob.[2]

It is still unclear as to why this object is emitting the Lyman-alpha emission radiation. The object may be a protogalaxy, or only a cloud reflecting other galaxies' lights.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Steidel et al. 2000, Astrophysical J., 532, 170–182.
  2. ^ a b c "Giant Space Blob Glows from Within". ESO Press Release. 17 August 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
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