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Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Центавр A http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1239567/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Tim Carruthers
Explanation:
Only 11 million light-years away,
Centaurus A
is the closest
active
galaxy to planet Earth.
Spanning over 60,000 light-years, the peculiar elliptical galaxy,
also known
as NGC 5128,
is featured in this sharp color image.
Centaurus A is
apparently the result of a
collision
of two otherwise normal galaxies
resulting in a fantastic jumble of star clusters and
imposing dark dust lanes.
Near the galaxy's center, left over
cosmic debris is steadily
being consumed by a central black hole with a billion times
the mass of the Sun.
As in other active galaxies, that process likely generates the radio,
X-ray, and gamma-ray
energy radiated by
Centaurus A.
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.