Barring the Sculptor Galaxy
Dec 29, 2010

The infrared image reveals several features previously hidden behind cells and lanes of dusty plasma. The most prominent is a bar of stars across the nucleus of the galaxy. In addition the image shows many cool red giant stars, especially in the halo region around the galaxy.

Two features which are not shown are important in an Electric Universe: One is the plume of X-ray emission that extends from the nucleus into the halo region along the minor axis (the spin axis) of the galaxy. The other is the large concentration of quasars that lie to the Southeast (below, in the image above) along the same bearing as the plume.

In a plasma Universe, galaxies are the result of a “pinch” interaction between two (or more) intergalactic Birkeland-current filaments. Plasma collects in each filament at the point of closest approach as well as in a “sump” between them. This sump develops into the galaxy’s nucleus, and a bar of plasma may connect it to the “hot spots” in the filaments. The filaments rotate around their common axis—what becomes the galaxy’s spin axis—at a constant velocity. Secondary (“coronal”) currents feeding into them then spiral in at the same velocity to form the galaxy’s arms. Pinches in these secondary (and tertiary, etc.) currents form stars. Gravity plays an almost insignificant role.

In a starburst galaxy, such as NGC 253, a surge of current generates many hot spots where star formation is accelerated. As well, it “charges up” the plasma focus mechanism(s) in the core. The plasma focus then episodically discharges X-ray emitting jets and highly redshifted quasar-like ejections of plasma, usually along the spin axis. As a result, active galaxies build up families of quasars and other high redshift objects in their outlying neighborhoods.

Mel Acheson