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Type 2 Quasar:
Gravitational Lens Helps Chandra Find Rare Type of Black Hole
X-ray (left) and Optical (right)
Images of Veiled Black Hole. The left hand panel
shows the Chandra X-ray Observatory image of a powerful
point-like source of X rays. The Hubble Space Telescope
image (right panel) shows the spiral galaxy with which
the X-ray source is associated. The X-ray source is
located at the center of the galaxy, and has a deficit
of low energy X rays, consistent with absorption by a
thick cloud of gas. The combination of powerful X-ray
emission, absorption of low energy X-rays, and the
relatively normal optical appearance of the galaxy
suggests that the source is a rare type of black hole
called a Type 2 quasar.
The spread-out appearance of the X-ray source is an
instrumental artifact. The distribution of X rays is
consistent with this source being point-like. The X-ray
and optical image panels have the same scale, which is
10 arcsec on a side.
Chandra X-ray Observatory Advanced CCD Imaging
Spectrometer Image (ACIS) of CXOUJ215334.0+174240
| Fast Facts for Type 2 Quasar: |
| Credit |
X-ray: NASA/IOA/Fabian et al., Optical: NASA/U.Durham/Smail et al. |
| Scale |
Image is 10 arcsec on a side. |
| Category |
Quasars & Active Galaxies |
| Coordinates (J2000) |
RA 21h 53m 34s | Dec +17° 42' 40" |
| Constellation |
Pegasus |
| Observation Dates |
November 5, 1999
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| Observation Time |
3 hours |
| Obs. IDs |
501
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| Color Code |
Intensity |
| Instrument |
ACIS |
| Distance Estimate |
About |
| Release Date |
March 20, 2000 |
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