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
NASA press release
Id: | opo0928f |
Type: | Observation |
Release date: | 10 November 2009, 17:00 |
Size: | 6300 x 3000 px |
About the Object
Name: | Sagittarius |
Type: | Milky Way : Galaxy : Component : Center/Core |
Distance: | 25000 light years |
Constellation: | Sagittarius |
Category: | Galaxies |
Image Formats
Large JPEG
1.2 MB
Publication TIFF 4K
5.8 MB
Publication JPEG
1.1 MB
Screensize JPEG
108.5 KB
Coordinates
Position (RA): | 17 45 46.19 |
Position (Dec): | -28° 54' 15.62" |
Field of view: | 20.99 x 9.99 arcminutes |
Orientation: | North is 58.7° left of vertical |
Colours & filters
Band | Telescope |
---|---|
X-ray |
Chandra
ACIS |