spitzer_ssc2004-09a1 June 1st, 2004
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/J. Keene (SSC/Caltech)
This image taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows in unprecedented detail the galaxy Centaurus A's last big meal: a spiral galaxy seemingly twisted into a parallelogram-shaped structure of dust. Spitzer's ability to see dust and also see through it allowed the telescope to peer into the center of Centaurus A and capture this galactic remnant as never before.
An elliptical galaxy located 10 million light-years from Earth, Centaurus A is one of the brightest sources of radio waves in the sky. These radio waves indicate the presence of a supermassive black hole, which may be "feeding" off the leftover galactic meal.
A high-speed jet of gas can be seen shooting above the plane of the galaxy (the faint, fuzzy feature pointing from the center toward the upper left). Jets are a common feature of galaxies, and this one is probably receiving an extra boost from the galactic remnant.
Scientists have created a model that explains how such a strangely geometric structure could arise. In this model, a spiral galaxy falls into an elliptical galaxy, becoming warped and twisted in the process. The folds in the warped disc create the parallelogram-shaped illusion.
Provider: Spitzer Space Telescope
Image Source: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/1192-ssc2004-09a1-Dusty-Elliptical-Galaxy-Centaurus-A
Curator: Spitzer Space Telescope, Pasadena, CA, USA
Image Use Policy: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/info/18-Image-Use-Policy
Telescope | Spectral Band | Wavelength | |
---|---|---|---|
Spitzer (IRAC) | Infrared (Near-IR) | 3.6 µm | |
Spitzer (IRAC) | Infrared (Near-IR) | 4.5 µm | |
Spitzer (IRAC) | Infrared (Mid-IR) | 5.8 µm | |
Spitzer (IRAC) | Infrared (Mid-IR) | 8.0 µm | |
The contribution from starlight has been subtracted from the 5.8 and 8.0 micron channels to enhance the visibility of dust features. |
Detailed color mapping information coming soon...
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