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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.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: active galaxy - Centaurus A - NGC 5128
Publications with words: active galaxy - Centaurus A - NGC 5128
See also: