"Death Star" : galaxy black hole fires at neighbouring galaxy
A powerful jet from a supermassive black hole is blasting a nearby galaxy, according to new data from NASA/ESA observatories. This never-before witnessed galactic violence may have a profound effect on planets in the jet's path and trigger a burst of star formation in its destructive wake. Known as 3C 321, the system contains two galaxies in orbit around each other. Data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory show both galaxies contain supermassive black holes at their centres, but the larger galaxy has a jet emanating from the vicinity of its black hole. The smaller galaxy apparently has swung into the path of this jet. This "death star galaxy" was discovered through the combined efforts of both space and ground-based telescopes. NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, and NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope were part of the effort. The Very Large Array (VLA) in Socorro, New Mexico (USA), and the Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) telescopes in the United Kingdom also were needed for the finding.
Credit:NASA & ESA
About the Image
Id: | ann0716 |
Type: | Observation |
Release date: | 17 December 2007, 19:00 |
Related announcements: | ann0716 |
Size: | 3600 x 2627 px |
About the Object
Name: | 3C 321 |
Type: | Early Universe : Galaxy : Activity : AGN |
Distance: | 0 light years |
Constellation: | Serpens Caput |
Category: | Cosmology Quasars and Black Holes |
Wallpapers
Coordinates
Position (RA): | 15 31 42.96 |
Position (Dec): | 24° 4' 22.93" |
Field of view: | 0.44 x 0.32 arcminutes |
Orientation: | North is -0.0° left of vertical |
Colours & filters
Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
---|---|---|
X-ray | 0.2917 nm |
Chandra
ACIS |
Radio | 9.2243833 cm | Very Large Array (VLA) |
Radio | 19 cm | Other |
Optical Oiii | 533 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |
Optical R | 702 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |
Ultraviolet Near-UV |
Hubble Space Telescope
STIS | |
Infrared Near-IR | 4.18 μm | Spitzer Space Telescope IRAC |