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Description
The three dimensional data structures of two positional axes and a spectral axis, called data cubes, are the cutting edge format of astronomy data for both visualization and analysis. The combined spectral and positional information from such data cubes can help study galaxies that have interesting spatial features like extended tails and interesting spectral features such as broadened emission lines and abnormal line ratios. In order for such galaxies to be studied, the raw telescope data has to be run through various codes in order to create a data cube for study. We created data cubes in this manner for five fields of ESO 137-002, a spiral galaxy with an extended tail in the nearby Abell 3627 cluster, using data from ESO/VLT/MUSE. We used additional codes to combine these data cubes into mosaic cubes that allow for the galaxy and its tail to be studied in a single data cube. In addition to completing these preliminary steps to data analysis, we have determined that ESO 137-002 does not follow the expected line ratios between the redder NII emission line and the H-alpha emission line in both the galaxy and tail regions. We have also noticed a wind coming out of the central supermassive blackhole, through velocity dispersions and broadened emission lines. We are still working on more specific results through further spectral and velocity analysis. We expect this in depth analysis of the galaxy will help us to better understand the wind from the central supermassive black hole and the abnormal NII to H Alpha emission line ratios.
Program
Honors Capstone Research (HCR)
Department
Physics and Astronomy
College Name
College of Science
Advisor/Mentor
Ming Sun
Publication Date
9-1-2023
Document Type
Poster
Keywords
ESO/VLT/MUSE, Astronomy, Data Cubes
Recommended Citation
Pichette, Nathanael, "Mining the Data Cubes in Astronomy" (2023). Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs). 411.
https://louis.uah.edu/rceu-hcr/411