The energetic jet in Messier 87

Messier 87 (NGC 4486) is a giant elliptical galaxy that harbours an active nucleus in its centre. The central black hole is fed by a small gas disk, and it powers a highly collimated, energetic jet that penetrates the inner part of the galaxy.

As a typical elliptical galaxy, it primarily contains old, fairly cold stars - they cause the reddish colour of the galaxy in this colour image. The powerful jet, however, is extremely energetic and emits much of its energy in the blue and ultraviolet parts of the spectrum. The jet, therefore, appears bright blue in comparison.

This image is a colour composite of three images taken in ultraviolet, blue, and visible light (U, B and V filtres) during the night of May 25 - 26, 1998. In reality, the bright blue colour of the jet corresponds to ultraviolet radiation.

The atmospheric conditions were less than optimal during this exposure.

Kredit:

ESO

O snímku

Id:eso9820g
Typ:Pozorování
Datum zveřejnění:27. května 1998
Související články:eso9820
Velikost:1659 x 1083 px

O objektu

Jméno:Messier 87, NGC 4485
Typ:Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Elliptical
Vzdálenost:30 milion světelné roky
Kategorie:Galaxies

Image Formats

největší JPEG
676,2 KB

Pozadí

1024x768
393,1 KB
1280x1024
580,8 KB
1600x1200
760,8 KB
1920x1200
857,1 KB
2048x1536
1,0 MB

Barvy & filtry

PásmoDalekohled
Optický
V
Very Large Telescope
Optický
B
Very Large Telescope
Ultrafialový
U
Very Large Telescope