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Centaurus A:
Extended X-Ray Jet in Nearby Galaxy Reveals Energy Source
Extended X-Ray Jet in Nearby Galaxy Reveals Energy Source
At a distance of 11 million light years, Centaurus A or NGC 5128, is the nearest example of a type of galaxy called an active galaxy. It is a large elliptically shaped galaxy that shows evidence of repeated explosions, probably from a supermassive black hole in the center of the galaxy. Radio and X-ray images of the galaxy show a jet of high-energy particles blasting out from the center. Because of its unusual nature and proximity, it is one of the most extensively studied galaxies in the southern hemisphere.
Multi-wavelength Images: (*Images not to scale) | |||
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X-ray
Jpg (138 k) Tiff (3.6 M) PS (3.4 M) |
Optical
Jpg (74 k) Tiff (3.8 MB) PS (3.4 MB) |
Infrared
Jpg (28 k) |
Radio Jpg (75 k) |
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