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Centaurus A: Jet Power and Black Hole Assortment Revealed in New Chandra Image
Centaurus A


A dramatic new Chandra image of the nearby galaxy Centaurus A provides one of the best views to date of the effects of an active supermassive black hole. Opposing jets of high-energy particles can be seen extending to the outer reaches of the galaxy, and numerous smaller black holes in binary star systems are also visible.

The image was made from an ultra-deep look at the galaxy Centaurus A, equivalent to more than seven days of continuous observations. Centaurus A is the nearest galaxy to Earth that contains a supermassive black hole actively powering a jet.

A prominent X-ray jet extending for 13,000 light years points to the upper left in the image, with a shorter "counterjet" aimed in the opposite direction. Astronomers think that such jets are important vehicles for transporting energy from the black hole to the much larger dimensions of a galaxy, and affecting the rate at which stars form there.

High-energy electrons spiraling around magnetic field lines produce the X-ray emission from the jet and counterjet. This emission quickly saps the energy from the electrons, so they must be continually reaccelerated or the X-rays will fade out. Knot-like features in the jets detected in the Chandra image show where the acceleration of particles to high energies is currently occurring, and provides important clues to understanding the process that accelerates the electrons to near-light speeds.

The inner part of the X-ray jet close to the black hole is dominated by these knots of X-ray emission, which probably come from shock waves -- akin to sonic booms -- caused by the jet. Farther from the black hole there is more diffuse X-ray emission in the jet. The cause of particle acceleration in this part of the jet is unknown.

Hundreds of point-like sources are also seen in the Chandra image. Many of these are X-ray binaries that contain a stellar-mass black hole and a companion star in orbit around one another. Determining the population and properties of these black holes should help scientists better understand the evolution of massive stars and the formation of black holes.

Another surprise was the detection of two particularly bright X-ray binaries. These sources may contain stellar mass black holes that are unusually massive, and this Chandra observation might have caught them gobbling up material at a high rate.

In this image, low-energy X-rays are colored red, intermediate-energy X-rays are green, and the highest-energy X-rays detected by Chandra are blue. The dark green and blue bands running almost perpendicular to the jet are dust lanes that absorb X-rays. This dust lane was created when Centaurus A merged with another galaxy perhaps 100 million years ago.

Fast Facts for Centaurus A:
Credit  NASA/CXC/CfA/R.Kraft et al
Release Date  January 09, 2008
Scale  Image is 16.8 arcmin across.
Category  Quasars & Active Galaxies
Coordinates (J2000)  RA 13 25 27.62 | Dec -43° 01´ 08.80"
Constellation  Centaurus
Observation Date  6 pointings between 03/22/2007 - 05/30/2007
Observation Time  199 hours
Obs. ID  7797-7800, 8489-90
Instrument  ACIS
Also Known As Cen A, NGC 5128
References Hardcastle, M. et al., 2007, ApJ, 670, L81
Color Code  Energy: Red (0.5-1.0); Green (1.0-1.5); Blue (1.5-2.0 keV)
X-ray
Distance Estimate  About 11 million light years
distance arrow
Visitor Comments (2)

Andromeda is the nearest large galaxy there are other smaller galaxies that are nearer . As the caption says, Centaurus A is the nearest galaxy where the central black hole drives a powerful jet.

Posted by Martin Hardcastle on Wednesday, 03.4.15 @ 08:46am


Good Day. Brilliant image captured. Please excuse me, but, I was under the impression that, the Andromeda galaxy was the closest to the Milky Way. Could you please reconfirm? -tks.

Posted by Costas.A . on Thursday, 08.21.14 @ 08:07am


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