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

Over de afbeelding

Id:eso1004c
Type:Observatie
Publicatiedatum:27 januari 2010 12:00
Gerelateerde berichten:eso1004
Grootte:930 x 928 px

Over het object

Naam:NGC 300 X-1
Type:Local Universe : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Black Hole
Local Universe : Star : Type : Wolf-Rayet
Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral
Afstand:6 miljoen lichtjaren
Constellation:Sculptor
Categorie:Galaxies
Quasars and Black Holes
Stars

Afbeeldingstypen

Grote JPEG
285,3 KB

Inzoomen


Achtergrond

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1280x1024
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1600x1200
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2048x1536
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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

Kleuren & filters

BandGolflengteTelescoop
Optisch
B
Very Large Telescope
FORS2
Optisch
OIII
500 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS2
Optisch
H-alpha
Very Large Telescope
FORS2