M31's intriguing nucleus
Hubble telescope observations have yielded insights into the Andromeda Galaxy's (M31's) complex nucleus. New images from Hubble uncovered a disk of young, hot, blue stars swirling around a supermassive black hole. The disk is nested inside an elliptical ring of older, cooler, red stars, seen in previous Hubble observations. The inset images show M31's bright core and a view of the entire galaxy.
Credit:About the Image
Id: | heic0512c |
Type: | Artwork |
Release date: | 20 September 2005, 19:00 |
Related releases: | heic0512 |
Size: | 2100 x 2229 px |
About the Object
Name: | Andromeda Galaxy, IRAS 00400+4059, M 31, Messier 31, NGC 224 |
Type: | Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral Local Universe : Galaxy : Component : Center/Core |
Distance: | 2 million light years |
Category: | Galaxies |