Angular size of the box = 15 arc min, corresponding
to 50,000 light years.
| Centaurus A: X-ray view of the nearest active galaxy | 10/09/1999 | ||
|
The Chandra X-ray image of Centaurus A (NGC5128) shows a bright source in the nucleus of the galaxy, which is probably due to a supermassive black hole. The bright jet extending out from the nucleus to the upper left is due to explosive or highly energetic activity around the black hole... | ||
| Go to full text | |||
|
|
|||
|
|||
| Image Credit: NASA, CXC, SAO. | |||
|
|
|||
| The
Chandra X-ray image of Centaurus A shows a bright source in the nucleus
of the galaxy, which is probably due to a supermassive black hole. The bright
jet extending out from the nucleus to the upper left is due to explosive
or highly energetic activity around the black hole which ejects matter at
high speeds from the vicinity of the black hole. A faint "counter jet"
extending to the lower right can also be seen. This jet is probably pointing
away from us. Numerous point-like sources of X rays are also apparent. These
are probably due to neutron stars or black holes that are accreting matter
from nearby companion stars.
Angular size of the box = 15 arc min, corresponding
to 50,000 light years. |
|
||
| Return to top of page | |||