XRISM Telescope Measures Galactic Wind Speed in M82

The article reports on the XRISM spacecraft's measurement of the hot gas outflow from the starburst galaxy M82. The Resolve instrument aboard XRISM measured the speed of the gas at over 3.2 million kilometers per hour and a temperature of 25 million degrees Celsius. This measurement confirms that stellar wind and supernova shockwaves drive the galactic outflow. However, XRISM data also reveals a discrepancy between the measured gas outflow and the predicted outflow based on stellar wind and supernova activity, suggesting that some gas is unaccounted for. The fate of this missing gas remains unknown, posing a challenge to existing models of galactic evolution. The XRISM mission is providing valuable data for refining these models and improving our understanding of how galaxies interact with their surroundings. The results highlight the complexity of galactic outflows and the need for further research to fully understand the processes involved. The measurement was obtained through careful analysis of iron's spectral signature, using the Doppler effect to determine the velocity of the gas. The findings suggest that the hot inner wind is powerful enough to hurl four solar masses of gas out of the galaxy every year, but XRISM shows that seven solar masses are moving outward annually, leaving three solar masses unaccounted for.

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