Energetic Jet Meets Resistance In Nearby Galaxy

Chandra_66_1024

chandra_66 April 23rd, 2003

Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Bristol U./M. Hardcastle et al.; Radio: NRAO/AUI/NSF/Bristol U./M. Hardcastle

This composite image of Chandra X-ray (blue) and VLA radio (red) observations shows the inner portion of a large, magnetized jet in Centaurus A. Purple regions are bright in both radio and X-ray. The jet originates from the vicinity of the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy (lower right hand corner of the image). As the jet moves away from the center of the galaxy at half the speed of light, it slows down when it encounters the resistance of gas in the galaxy. This interaction generates a powerful shock wave that produces the extremely high-energy particles responsible for the X-rays seen in the outer portions of the jet.

Provider: Chandra X-ray Observatory

Image Source: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2003/cenajet/

Curator: Chandra X-ray Observatory, Cambridge, MA, USA

Image Use Policy: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/image_use.html

Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
Centaurus A Jet Cen A NGC 5128

Distance

Universescale2
11,000,000 light years
Chandra_66_128
 

Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 13h 25m 30.5s
DEC = -43° 0’ 46.0”
Orientation
North is 0.2° CW
Field of View
1.3 x 1.0 arcminutes
Constellation
Centaurus

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Blue Chandra (ACIS) X-ray (X-ray) 826.7 pm
Red NRAO (VLA) Radio (X-band) 36.0 mm
Red NRAO (VLA) Radio (X-band) 36.0 mm
Red NRAO (VLA) Radio (X-band) 36.0 mm
Red NRAO (VLA) Radio (X-band) 36.0 mm
Spectrum_xray2
Blue
Red
Red
Red
Red
Chandra_66_1280
×
ID
66
Subject Category
Subject Name
Centaurus A Jet, Cen A, NGC 5128
Credits
X-ray: NASA/CXC/Bristol U./M. Hardcastle et al.; Radio: NRAO/AUI/NSF/Bristol U./M. Hardcastle
Release Date
2003-04-23
Lightyears
11e6
Redshift
11e6
Reference Url
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2003/cenajet/
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Chandra, NRAO, NRAO, NRAO, NRAO
Instrument
ACIS, VLA, VLA, VLA, VLA
Color Assignment
Blue, Red, Red, Red, Red
Band
X-ray, Radio, Radio, Radio, Radio
Bandpass
X-ray, X-band, X-band, X-band, X-band
Central Wavelength
0.8267, 3.6e7, 3.6e7, 3.6e7, 3.6e7
Start Time
2002-09-03T02:43:30, 1991-07-02, 1991-11-09, 2002-03-03, 1991-07-12
Integration Time
45180, 7560, 7560, 10440, 10440
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
J2000
Reference Value
201.3771102, -43.0127723
Reference Dimension
1600.0, 1240.0
Reference Pixel
801.0, 621.0
Scale
1.32144e-05, 1.321443e-05
Rotation
-0.15
Coordinate System Projection:
TAN
Quality
Full
FITS Header
Notes
WCS retrieved using CXCs PinpointWCS
Creator (Curator)
Chandra X-ray Observatory
URL
http://chandra.harvard.edu
Name
Chandra X-ray Observatory Center
Email
cxcpub@cfa.harvard.edu
Telephone
617.496.7941
Address
60 Garden St.
City
Cambridge
State/Province
MA
Postal Code
02138
Country
USA
Rights
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/image_use.html
Publisher
Chandra X-Ray Center
Publisher ID
chandra
Resource ID
cenajet.tif
Metadata Date
2012-07-27T15:02:33-04:00
Metadata Version
1.2
×

 

Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

×
Universescalefull
11,000,000 light years

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