M106: A Spiral Galaxy with a Strange Core
Credit & Copyright: Ron & Beth Sharer,
Steven White,
AOP,
KPNO,
NOAO,
NSF
Explanation:
What's happening at the center of spiral galaxy M106?
A swirling disk of stars and gas,
M106's appearance is dominated by
two bright spiral arms and dark
dust lanes near the nucleus.
Bright newly formed stars near their outer tips
distinguish the spiral arms in the
above photograph.
The core of M106 glows brightly in
radio waves and
X-rays where
twin jets have been found running the length of the galaxy.
An unusual central glow makes M106 one
of the closest examples of the
Seyfert class of galaxies,
where vast amounts of glowing gas are thought
to be falling into a central massive
black hole.
M106,
also designated
NGC 4258,
is a relatively close 25 million light years away,
spans 30 thousand
light years across, and can be seen with a small telescope
towards the
constellation of
Canes Venatici.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
