Wind and Reflections From Black Hole in Galaxy NGC 1068

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES

11.19.2009

Courtesy Photo

NASA

Chandra X-Ray Observatory provided this composite X-ray (blue and green) and optical (red) image of the active galaxy NGC 1068 showing gas blowing away in a high-speed wind from the vicinity of a central supermassive black hole. Regions of intense star formation in the irner spiral arms of the galaxy are highlighted by both optical and x-ray emissions. A doughnut shaped cloud of cool gas and dust surrounding the black hole, known as the torus, appears as the elongated white spot . It has has a mass of about 5 million suns and is estimated to extend from within a few light years of the black hole out to about 300 light years.

NASA Identifier: MSFC-0301628

• Date Taken: 11.19.2009
• Date Posted: 10.19.2012 15:35
• Photo ID: 751601
• Resolution: 1497x1536
• Size: 128.31 KB
• Location: WASHINGTON, DC, US