An Unwelcome Place for New Stars

Galex_glx2006-04r_img01_1024

galex_glx2006-04r_img01 August 23rd, 2006

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Tim Pyle (SSC)

This artist's concept depicts a supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy. NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer found evidence that black holes - once they grow to a critical size - stifle the formation of new stars in elliptical galaxies. Black holes are thought to do this by heating up and blasting away the gas that fuels star formation.

The blue color here represents radiation pouring out from material very close to the black hole. The grayish structure surrounding the black hole, called a torus, is made up of gas and dust. Beyond the torus, only the old red-colored stars that make up the galaxy can be seen. There are no new stars in the galaxy.

Provider: Galaxy Evolution Explorer

Image Source: /image/galex/glx2006-04r_img01

Curator: Galaxy Evolution Explorer

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Image Details Image Details

Image Type
Artwork
Subject - Local Universe
Galaxy > Activity > AGN
Galaxy > Component > Central Black Hole
Galex_glx2006-04r_img01_1280
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ID
glx2006-04r_img01
Subject Category
C.5.3.2.   C.5.4.6.  
Subject Name
Credits
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Tim Pyle (SSC)
Release Date
2006-08-23
Lightyears
Redshift
Reference Url
/image/galex/glx2006-04r_img01
Type
Artwork
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Instrument
Color Assignment
Band
Bandpass
Central Wavelength
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
Equinox
Reference Value
Reference Dimension
Reference Pixel
Scale
Rotation
Coordinate System Projection:
Quality
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
Galaxy Evolution Explorer
URL
http://www.galex.caltech.edu
Name
Email
Telephone
Address
City
State/Province
Postal Code
Country
Rights
Publisher
Galaxy Evolution Explorer
Publisher ID
galex
Resource ID
Resource URL
/image/galex/glx2006-04r_img01
Related Resources
Metadata Date
2023-02-24T08:57:36Z
Metadata Version
1.2
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