Compact core of galaxy M87

Astronomers report today that they have found intriguing evidence that a black hole weighing over 2.6 billion times the mass of the Sun exists at the center of the giant elliptical galaxy M87, based upon images taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The images show that stars become strongly concentrated towards the center of M87, as if drawn into the center and held there by the gravitational field of a massive black hole.

Credit:

NASA & ESA

About the Image

NASA press release
Id:opo9201b
Type:Observation
Release date:16 January 1992, 06:00
Size:2143 x 1718 px

About the Object

Name:IRAS 12282+1240, M 87, Messier 87, NGC 4486, Virgo Galaxy
Type:Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Elliptical
Local Universe : Galaxy : Size : Giant
Local Universe : Galaxy : Component : Center/Core
Distance:55 million light years
Constellation:Virgo
Category:Galaxies
Quasars and Black Holes

Image Formats

r.titleLarge JPEG
1.0 MB
r.titleScreensize JPEG
219.0 KB

Coordinates

Position (RA):12 30 49.01
Position (Dec):12° 23' 30.91"
Field of view:0.49 x 0.39 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 151.4° left of vertical


Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Infrared
I
785 nm Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC1

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