The central region of NGC 1068

It illustrates the new insight into the central region of the active galaxy NGC 1068, at increasing magnification. Image a (left) A colour composite of NGC 1068, obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST); showing stellar light in blue, oxygen ionized by the active nucleus in yellow, and inonized hydrogen in red. Image b (middle) is a VLTI image by MIDI at wavelength 8.7 µm, penetrating the dust cloud and showing the central structures in great detail. Image c (right) is a sketch of the dust structure of the innermost region. It contains a central hot component (at least 500°C; yellow), marginally resolved by the VLTI observations in the North-South direction (i.e. in the vertical direction in this image). It is surrounded by a larger warm component (~50°, red) that is well resolved. The arrows at the upper left indicate the directions of the two VLTI baselines and the corresponding resolution (image sharpness) at the central observed wavelength (10.5 µm).

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso0414a
Type:Collage
Release date:5 May 2004
Related releases:eso0414
Size:1688 x 522 px

About the Object

Name:NGC 1068
Type:Local Universe : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Neutron Star : Magnetar
Distance:35 million light years
Category:Stars

Image Formats

Large JPEG
234.1 KB
Screensize JPEG
95.2 KB

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
OpticalHubble Space Telescope
Optical
OII
Hubble Space Telescope
Infrared
Near-IR
8.7 μmVery Large Telescope
MIDI
Optical
HII
Hubble Space Telescope