Hubble image archive
Galactic Center Region in X-rays from Chandra
X-rays detected by the Chandra X-ray Observatory expose a wealth of exotic objects and high-energy features. In this image, pink represents lower energy X-rays and blue indicates higher energy. Hundreds of small dots show emission from material around black holes and other dense...
- Date
- Jan 1, 2009
- Mission
- Hubble Space Telescope
- Archive ID
- hubblesite-images-2009-28-2633-image
X-rays detected by the Chandra X-ray Observatory expose a wealth of exotic objects and high-energy features. In this image, pink represents lower energy X-rays and blue indicates higher energy. Hundreds of small dots show emission from material around black holes and other dense stellar objects. A supermassive black hole – some four million times more massive than the Sun – resides within the bright region in the lower right. The diffuse X-ray light comes from gas heated to millions of degrees by outflows from the supermassive black hole, winds from giant stars, and stellar explosions. This central region is the most energetic place in our galaxy.
Credits
NASA, CXC, Q.D. Wang (University of Massachusetts, Amherst), and STScIImage Details
| About The Object | |
|---|---|
| Object Name | Galactic Center |
| Object Description | Center of the Milky Way Galaxy |
| R.A. Position | 17h 45m 36.0s |
| Dec. Position | -28° 55' 58.8" |
| Constellation | Sagittarius |
| Distance | 26,000 light-years (8 kiloparsecs) |
| Dimensions | The image of the galactic center is 32.5 arcminutes (246 light-years or 75.5 parsecs) wide. |
| About The Data | |
| Data Description | The science team was led by Q.D. Wang (University of Massachusetts, Amherst). Image courtesy of NASA/CXC/UMass/Q.D. Wang et al. |
| Instrument | CXO>ACIS |
| Exposure Dates | March 2000 - July 2007 |
| Filters | 1-3 keV, 3-5 keV, 5-8 keV |
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Source
Image and source material are credited to the official mission archive linked below.
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