Andromeda Galaxy (M31):
Chandra Images Heart of Andromeda Galaxy
[Please note: Additional observations of M31 that alter the conclusions in this release were announced on October 12, 2001. View the updated Chandra results on the Andromeda galaxy.]
This Chandra X-ray image shows the central portion of the Andromeda Galaxy. The blue dot in the
center of the image is an unusually "cool" million
degree X-ray source of unknown nature. Just above this
cool source is a source (yellow) that is thought to be
due to X-rays from matter swirling toward a
supermassive black hole in the nucleus of the galaxy.
This black hole contains the mass of 30 million suns.
Numerous other X-ray sources are also apparent. Most of
these are probably due to X-ray binary systems, in
which a neutron star or black hole is in a close orbit
around a normal star.
| Fast Facts for Andromeda
Galaxy (M31): |
| Credit
|
NASA/CXC/SAO |
| Scale
|
Image is 1 arcmin on a side.
|
| Category |
Normal
Galaxies & Starburst Galaxies |
| Coordinates
(J2000) |
RA 00h 40m 27s | Dec +40º
40' 12" |
| Constellation
|
Andromeda |
| Observation
Date |
October 13, 1999 |
| Observation
Time |
2.8 hours |
| Obs. ID
|
303 |
| Color Code
|
Cool blue dot - the rest is
intensity |
| Instrument
|
ACIS |
| Also Known
As |
M31 |
| Distance Estimate |
Two million light years |
|
Release Date
|
January 14, 2000
|
|
|
