Galactic centre region in X-rays from Chandra

X-rays detected by the Chandra X-ray Observatory expose a wealth of exotic objects and high-energy features. In this image, pink represents lower energy X-rays and blue indicates higher energy. Hundreds of small dots show emission from material around black holes and other dense stellar objects. A supermassive black hole – some four million times more massive than the Sun – resides within the bright region in the lower right. The diffuse X-ray light comes from gas heated to millions of degrees by outflows from the supermassive black hole, winds from giant stars, and stellar explosions. This central region is the most energetic place in our galaxy.

Credit:

NASA, CXC, D. Wang (University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA) and STScI

About the Image

Press Release
Long caption
Id:opo0928d
Size:6300 x 3000 px

About the Object

Name:Sagittarius
Type:• Stars Images/Videos
• Quasars/AGN/Black Hole Images/Videos

Images

Large JPEG
1.2 MB
Screensize JPEG
101.1 KB

Also see our