APOD Graduate Assistantship: Research the universe -- support a leading astronomy web site
Posted on 11/29/2011 3:21:48 AM PST by SunkenCiv
Explanation: A fantastic jumble of young blue star clusters, gigantic glowing gas clouds, and imposing dark dust lanes surrounds the central region of the active galaxy Centaurus A. This image from the Hubble Space Telescope has been processed to present a natural color picture of this cosmic maelstrom. Infrared images from the Hubble have also shown that hidden at the center of this activity are what seem to be disks of matter spiraling into a black hole with a billion times the mass of the Sun. Centaurus A itself is apparently the result of a collision of two galaxies and the left over debris is steadily being consumed by the black hole. Astronomers believe that such black hole central engines generate the radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray energy radiated by Centaurus A and other active galaxies. But for an active galaxy Centaurus A is close, a mere 10 million light-years away, and is a relatively convenient laboratory for exploring these powerful sources of energy.APOD Graduate Assistantship: Research the universe -- support a leading astronomy web site
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA) -- ESA/Hubble Collaboration; Acknowledgement: R. O'Connell (U. Virginia)]
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It looks dirty.
Dark Matter? :-)
Nice shot. We call it the Hamburger Galaxy.
Never looked that close though.
Lots of fantasy and science fiction in that write-up accompanying that photo...
...seriously doubt some brave astronaut made it there - took in-situ samples and pics - and made it back.
We’re not that advanced...
=8-)
And I am afraid we will never get there, now that NASA’s stated purpose is to promote Muslim Self-Esteem and be a shill for the global warming fantasy. (sigh)
...I wondered why it was such a hot summer. Now I know.
Thank you, Mr. Civilizations. I did have quite a good day.
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