Westerhout 49
Encyclopedia
Westerhout 49 or W49, is a strong galactic thermal radio source characteristic of an HII region. It was discovered by Gart Westerhout
in 1958. Its distance is estimated to be about 14-15 kpcs and it lies in the galactic plane about the same distance from the galactic centre as does the Sun. It has been compared to the giant HII region NGC 3603
which is about half as distant. Non-thermal radiation has been found which is believed to be from an old supernova
remnant. Gaseous molecular outflows have been detected as well as H2O (water) masers . No optical counterpart has yet been discovered. While this is partly due to interstellar absorption, any tight clustering of stars at such a great distance in the galactic plane would be scarcely distinguishable from the general background.
Gart Westerhout
Gart Westerhout is a Dutch astronomer. Well before completing his university studies at Leiden, he had already become well-established internationally as a radio astronomer in The Netherlands, specializing in studies of radio sources and the Milky Way Galaxy based on observations of radio...
in 1958. Its distance is estimated to be about 14-15 kpcs and it lies in the galactic plane about the same distance from the galactic centre as does the Sun. It has been compared to the giant HII region NGC 3603
NGC 3603
NGC 3603 is an open cluster of stars situated in the Carina spiral arm of the Milky Way around 20,000 light-years away from the Solar System....
which is about half as distant. Non-thermal radiation has been found which is believed to be from an old supernova
Supernova
A supernova is a stellar explosion that is more energetic than a nova. It is pronounced with the plural supernovae or supernovas. Supernovae are extremely luminous and cause a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy, before fading from view over several weeks or months...
remnant. Gaseous molecular outflows have been detected as well as H2O (water) masers . No optical counterpart has yet been discovered. While this is partly due to interstellar absorption, any tight clustering of stars at such a great distance in the galactic plane would be scarcely distinguishable from the general background.