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Light Echo at Galactic Center Animations
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Images of Light Echo at Galactic Center
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This sequence shows the location of the light echo at the Galactic Center
by placing it in context with other Chandra observations of the region. The
light echo is produced when X-rays from the Milky Way's giant black hole
bounce off surrounding gas clouds. The light echo is found approximately 50
light years away from Sagittarius A* (or Sgr A*, for short), the
supermassive black hole in the Galactic Center.
[Runtime: 0:25]
(Credit: NASA/CXC)
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Variability in Chandra Images of Light Echo
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The first image shows Chandra data of the middle of the Milky Way, with
the position of Sgr A* labeled. The view then shows how the X-ray
emission in the gas clouds change in shape and brightness between
the three different observations in 2002, 2004 and 2005. This behavior
agrees with theoretical predictions for a light echo produced by Sgr A*
and helps rule out other interpretations.
[Runtime: 0:22]
(Credit: NASA/CXC/Caltech/M.Muno et al.)
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Illustrations of Light Echo
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This sequence of illustrations shows how an outburst from Sgr A* --
produced when material falls into the black hole -- generates a light
echo. The faint, star-like object in the center represents the typical,
quiet behavior, when the black hole does not have much material to
consume. When the black hole's feeding rate increases dramatically, the
material around Sgr A* brightens. Although the black hole outburst
stops, the light from the outburst continues to travel outwards and then
reflects, or echoes, off three clouds of gas in its path.
[Runtime: 0:13]
(Credit: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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Animation of a Black Hole's Outburst
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This animation shows how high-energy particles and X-ray flares are
produced when matter falls onto the accretion disk around a supermassive
black hole. Astronomers believe such an event occurred to produce the
light echo seen in the latest Chandra results.
[Runtime: 0:10]
(Credit: NASA/CXC/D.Berry)
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Return to Light Echo at Galactic Center
(10 Jan 07)
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