Galaxy M84 Nucleus

This image, taken with Hubble's Wide Field Planetary and Camera 2, shows the core of the galaxy where the suspected black hole dwells. Astronomers mapped the motions of gas in the grip of the black hole's powerful gravitational pull by aligning the STIS's spectroscopic slit across the nucleus in a single exposure.

Credit:

Gary Bower, Richard Green (NOAO), the STIS Instrument Definition Team, and NASA/ESA

About the Image

NASA press release
Id:opo9712b
Type:Observation
Release date:12 May 1997, 17:00
Size:571 x 645 px

About the Object

Name:IRAS 12224+1309, M 84, Messier 84, NGC 4374
Type:Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Lenticular
Local Universe : Galaxy : Component : Center/Core
Distance:55 million light years
Constellation:Virgo
Category:Quasars and Black Holes

Image Formats

r.titleLarge JPEG
57.6 KB
r.titleScreensize JPEG
100.0 KB

Coordinates

Position (RA):12 25 3.82
Position (Dec):12° 53' 11.71"
Field of view:0.43 x 0.49 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 89.8° left of vertical


Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Optical
V
547 nm Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2
Optical
R
658 nm Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2
Infrared
I
814 nm Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2

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