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:

NASA, ESA, and A. Feild (STScI)

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

Image Formats

r.titleLarge JPEG
1.5 MB
r.titleScreensize JPEG
420.4 KB

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