Cover Image: January 2002 Scientific American Magazine See Inside

The Galaxy's Dynamic Atmosphere [Preview]















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Milky Way Galaxy

Milky Way Galaxy Image:

The term "interstellar medium" once conjured up a picture like the one below: frigid, inky clouds of gas and dust in repose near the galactic plane. Today astronomers recognize the medium as a protean atmosphere roiled by supernova explosions. Gas gushes through towering chimneys, then showers back down in mighty fountains.

1 A superbubble originates with a cluster of massive stars.


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