January 04, 2005

A new image from the Gemini Observatory in Hawaii shows a galaxy ablaze with the fireworks of stellar life and death.

The spiral galaxy, named NGC 6946, is seen face-on.

Astronomers suspect that massive stars have been exploding throughout the galaxy in rapid-fire fashion for tens of millions of years.

"In order to sustain this rate of supernova activity, massive, quickly evolving stars must form or be born at an equally rapid rate in NGC 6946," said Gemini North Associate Director Jean-René Roy. NGC 6946 experiences a much higher rate of star formation than all the large galaxies in our local neighborhood.

"Its stars are exploding like a string of firecrackers," Roy said.

Over the past century, eight supernovae have exploded in the arms of galaxy, making it the most prolific known galaxy for supernovas. About one supernova goes off each century in the Milky Way.

-- SPACE.com Staff