Simulation of gas cloud after close approach to the black hole at the centre of the Milky Way

This view shows a simulation of how a gas cloud that has been observed approaching the supermassive black hole at the centre of the galaxy may break apart over the next few years. This is the first time ever that the approach of such a doomed cloud to a supermassive black hole has been observed and it is expected to break up completely during 2013. The remains of the gas cloud are shown in red and yellow, with the cloud's orbit marked in red. The stars orbiting the black hole are also shown along with blue lines marking their orbits. This view simulates the expected positions of the stars and gas cloud in the year 2021.

Crédit:

ESO/MPE/Marc Schartmann

À propos de l'image

Identification:eso1151a
Type:Dessin
Date de publication:14 décembre 2011 19:00
Communiqués de presse en rapport:eso1151
Annonces en rapport:ann11083
Taille:4000 x 2250 px

À propos de l'objet

Nom:Sgr A*
Type:Milky Way : Galaxy : Component : Central Black Hole
Distance:25000 années lumière
Catégorie:Illustrations
Quasars and Black Holes

Image Formats

Grand JPEG
3,0 Mio
JPEG taille écran
188,0 Kio

Zoomable


Fonds d'écran

1024x768
305,1 Kio
1280x1024
475,3 Kio
1600x1200
667,2 Kio
1920x1200
759,8 Kio
2048x1536
1,1 Mio