Peering Into The Heart of Darkness

Chandra_444_1024

chandra_444 January 5th, 2010

Credit: NASA/CXC/MIT/F.K. Baganoff et al

This Chandra image of Sgr A* and the region around it was based on almost two weeks of observing time. A theoretical model based on these deep data has been produced to help explain why this giant black hole seems to consume so little material. Scientists have also used these data to probe supernova remnants and lobes of hot gas extending away from the black hole. The image also contains several mysterious X-ray filaments.

Provider: Chandra X-ray Observatory

Image Source: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2010/sgra/

Curator: Chandra X-ray Observatory, Cambridge, MA, USA

Image Use Policy: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/image_use.html

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Image Details Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
Sagittarius A*
Subject - Milky Way
Star > Evolutionary Stage > Black Hole
Galaxy > Component > Central Black Hole

Distance Details Distance

Universescale1
26,000 light years
Chandra_444_128
 

Position Details Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 17h 46m 19.1s
DEC = -28° 51’ 50.8”
Orientation
North is up
Field of View
7.4 x 7.4 arcminutes
Constellation
Sagittarius

Color Mapping Details Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Red Chandra (ACIS) X-ray 826.7 pm
Blue Chandra (ACIS) X-ray 826.7 pm
Green Chandra (ACIS) X-ray 826.7 pm
Spectrum_xray1
Red
Blue
Green
Chandra_444_1280
×
ID
444
Subject Category
B.3.1.10   B.5.4.6  
Subject Name
Sagittarius A*
Credits
NASA/CXC/MIT/F.K. Baganoff et al
Release Date
2010-01-05
Lightyears
26,000
Redshift
26,000
Reference Url
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2010/sgra/
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Chandra, Chandra, Chandra
Instrument
ACIS, ACIS, ACIS
Color Assignment
Red, Blue, Green
Band
X-ray, X-ray, X-ray
Bandpass
-, -, -
Central Wavelength
0.8267, 0.8267, 0.8267
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
J2000
Reference Value
266.5795983, -28.8641020
Reference Dimension
3600.0, 3600.0
Reference Pixel
1801.0, 1801.0
Scale
3.42308e-05, 3.42308e-05
Rotation
-0.0
Coordinate System Projection:
TAN
Quality
Full
FITS Header
Notes
WCS retrieved using CXCs PinpointWCS
Creator (Curator)
Chandra X-ray Observatory
URL
http://chandra.harvard.edu
Name
Chandra X-ray Observatory Center
Email
cxcpub@cfa.harvard.edu
Telephone
617.496.7941
Address
60 Garden St.
City
Cambridge
State/Province
MA
Postal Code
02138
Country
USA
Rights
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/image_use.html
Publisher
Chandra X-Ray Observatory
Publisher ID
chandra
Resource ID
Resource URL
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2010/sgra/sgra.tif
Related Resources
Metadata Date
2011-12-05T12:20:56-05:00
Metadata Version
1.2
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Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

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Universescalefull
26,000 light years

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NASA’s Universe of Learning materials are based upon work supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AC65A to the Space Telescope Science Institute, working in partnership with Caltech/IPAC, Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The award is part of NASA’s Science Activation program, which strives to further enable NASA science experts and content into the learning environment more effectively and efficiently with learners of all ages.