NGC 300 X-1 in the spiral galaxy NGC 300

Astronomers using ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) have detected a stellar-mass black hole much further away than any other previously known. With a mass about twenty times that of the Sun, this is also the second most massive stellar-mass black hole ever found. The newly announced black hole lies in a spiral galaxy called NGC 300, six million light-years from Earth.

This image obtained with the FORS2 instrument on the VLT is centred on the position of the black hole. The image covers a field of view of about 2x2 arcminutes, or about 4000 light-years at the distance of NGC 300. The image is based on data obtained through a wide B filter and two narrow-band filters centred on 500 nm and H-alpha.

Credit:

ESO/P. Crowther

About the Image

Id:eso1004c
Type:Observation
Release date:27 January 2010, 12:00
Related releases:eso1004
Size:930 x 928 px

About the Object

Name:NGC 300 X-1
Type:Local Universe : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Black Hole
Local Universe : Star : Type : Wolf-Rayet
Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral
Distance:6 million light years
Constellation:Sculptor
Category:Galaxies
Quasars and Black Holes
Stars

Image Formats

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Coordinates

Position (RA):0 55 9.92
Position (Dec):-37° 42' 7.67"
Field of view:1.95 x 1.95 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.1° right of vertical

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Optical
B
Very Large Telescope
FORS2
Optical
OIII
500 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS2
Optical
H-alpha
Very Large Telescope
FORS2