Extended X-Ray Jet in Nearby Galaxy Reveals Energy Source

Chandra_290_1024

chandra_290 October 25th, 1999

Credit: NASA/CXC/SAO

The Chandra X-ray image of Centaurus A shows a bright source in the nucleus of the galaxy, which is thought to be due to a supermassive black hole. The main jet extending to the upper left far outside the galaxy is caused by explosive activity around the black hole. A smaller "counter jet" extending to the lower right can also be seen. The faint arc on the lower right is thought to represent a shock wave produced by energetic particles expanding away from the nucleus. 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.

Provider: Chandra X-ray Observatory

Image Source: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/1999/0157/

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
Subject - Local Universe
Galaxy > Activity > AGN

Distance

Universescale2
11,000,000 light years
Chandra_290_128
 

Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 13h 25m 28.9s
DEC = -43° 0’ 40.4”
Orientation
North is 0.2° CW
Field of View
17.2 x 17.0 arcminutes
Constellation
Centaurus

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Orange Chandra (HRC) X-ray -
Chandra_290_1280
×
ID
290
Subject Category
C.5.3.2.  
Subject Name
Centaurus A
Credits
NASA/CXC/SAO
Release Date
1999-10-25
Lightyears
11,000,000
Redshift
11,000,000
Reference Url
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/1999/0157/
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Chandra
Instrument
HRC
Color Assignment
Orange
Band
X-ray
Bandpass
Central Wavelength
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
1253
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
J2000
Reference Value
201.3705748, -43.0112324
Reference Dimension
2250.0, 2221.0
Reference Pixel
1126.0, 1111.5
Scale
0.00012741, 0.00012740954
Rotation
-0.20
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
0157_xray.tif
Metadata Date
2011-07-18T15:38:54-04:00
Metadata Version
1.1
×

 

Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

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Universescalefull
11,000,000 light years

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