How’s that for a starburst? Found in this distant spiral galaxy is a giant star prone to mysterious outbursts. Thanks to @ChandraXray, scientists identified the culprit behind the eruptions—a hidden companion to the volatile star. go.nasa.gov/4kK4xGH
A pink spiral galaxy lies diagonally across the scene centered in the leftmost half of the photo. A handful of distant stars and galaxies, glowing pink and red, dot the black background of space.

ALT A pink spiral galaxy lies diagonally across the scene centered in the leftmost half of the photo. A handful of distant stars and galaxies, glowing pink and red, dot the black background of space.

Nov 11, 2026 · 12:00 AM UTC

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Doesn’t look anything like this.
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Pink is not an approved exterior color, and neither are random outbursts after 10 PM. I've added this galaxy to Thursday's agenda.
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A star 30 million light-years away has been throwing a tantrum roughly every 113 days. And scientists now think an invisible black hole or neutron star might be responsible. The fact we've managed to work that out from here on Earth is absolutely incredible.
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Even in a distant galaxy, the mysterious outbursts turn out to involve someone you’re living with.
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How often do outbursting stars like this turn out to have a companion that only shows up in X-rays?
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A giant star having dramatic outbursts because of a secret companion. Relatable, honestly.
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a hidden companion doing the dramatic stuff is such a satisfying answer
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looks like candy floss
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wait so how far away is this one?
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Even for stars, the root cause turns out to be the one you could not see at first
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So the star wasn't being dramatic it was the friend it hangs out with? Happens to the best of us
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A giant star throwing tantrums usually has a reason hiding nearby. This time the companion only showed up in X-rays.
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X-rays usually come from gas heated to millions of degrees, so when a volatile star flares in X-rays, colliding winds or matter falling onto a hidden companion are prime suspects. Chandra has been doing this kind of detective work since 1999.
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Can someone explain how this is so good?
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Hello NASA, what exists in the darkness of space before light is born?
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Chandra observes X-rays that Earth’s atmosphere absorbs, so its orbit lets it study high-energy events that ground-based telescopes cannot see directly.
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When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which You established—what is man, that You are mindful of him? Lord, how excellent is Your Name over all the earth! Psalms 8:4,5,10
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Is that a close up of a slab of granite with a flash light shining on it?
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Can someone explain how this is so good?
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A hidden companion causing the outbursts is such a great plot twist. How long did it take Chandra to catch it?
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@NASA @chandraxray
Image from 🤖 (@trouseredapes)
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That's a bright star.
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Is that you? Lucy?
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The pink core and blue arms make this galaxy shot stunning
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Wow, is beautiful
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Lame... your supposed to be NASA... My kids ignore you love spaceX
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Giant stars with unpredictable outbursts are such a good reminder of how violent stellar life can get near the end. Great work from the Chandra team.
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Wow this is so cool 😎
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A spectacular find, xray shows its true nature. Well done, brava! 🇺🇸💫
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this is amazing
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Brand New Galaxy??? Ayyo I wonder why it is so Volatile! Voluntary?
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Decent
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Lindo!!! ✨
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The beauty of the universe is humanity's good fortune; may the universe be blessed.
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A giant star with a temper and a secret partner 💥 Reminds me of Eta Carinae in our own galaxy, another huge star famous for dramatic eruptions that turned out to have a companion too. Gorgeous spiral to host it all ✨
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is this true? OMG
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