The Large and Small of M87
Explanation:
The small core of
elliptical galaxy M87
appears to be energizing its whole galactic neighborhood.
Recent images from the
Very Large Array (VLA) of
radio telescopes indicate that huge bubbles of
hot gas not only exist but are still being created.
These bubbles measure 200,000 light-years across
and surround the
entire galaxy.
The source creating and feeding the bubbles
has been traced to
jets pointing back to
M87's center, where a
supermassive black hole
is thought to live. The smallest scale on the
above radio-map is 0.2 light-years and imaged by
many radio telescopes working together (
VLBI).
The labeled numbers
refer to the wavelength of the radio waves observed.
The exact composition of these jets is
not known, but thought to contain various
subatomic particles.
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.
