Image of M81 With Gamma-ray Excess Highlighted (IMAGE)

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Image of M81 With Gamma-ray Excess Highlighted

Caption

The gamma-ray excess (shown in yellow-white) at the heart of M31 hints at unexpected goings-on in the galaxy's central region. Scientists think the signal could be produced by a variety of processes, including a population of pulsars or even dark matter.

Credit

NASA/DOE/Fermi LAT Collaboration and Bill Schoening, Vanessa Harvey/REU program/NOAO/AURA/NSF

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