En galax full av överraskningar — spiralgalaxen NGC 3621
Denna bild, tagen med ESO:s Very Large Telescope (VLT), visar en anmärkningsvärd galax känd som NGC 3621. Likt andra spiralgalaxer har den en platt skiva genomsyrad av mörka stoftmoln och framträdande spiralarmar där unga stjärnor bildas i hopar (spiralarmarnas blå fläckar). Men olikt de flesta spiralgalaxer som har en central utbuktning — en stor mängd gamla stjärnor packade i ett kompakt, sfäriskt område — har inte NGC 3621 någon sådan. Bilden visar tydligt ett ljsuare område i mitten av galaxen, men ingen sfärisk utbuktning som den i exempelvis NGC 6744 (eso1118).
NGC 3621 är också intressant eftersom den tros ha ett aktivt supermassivt svart hål i sitt centrum som drar till sig materia och utsänder strålning. Detta är något ovanligt eftersom de flesta av dessa så kallade aktiva galaxkärnor finns i galaxer med framträdande utbuktningar. I just detta fall tros det supermassiva svarta hålet ha en relativt liten massa, cirka 20 000 gånger solens.
En annan intressant egenskap är att det troligen finns ytterligare två mindre svarta hål, med massor några tusen gånger solens, nära galaxens kärna. Därför är NGC 3621 ett extremt intressant objekt som kan ha ett system av tre svarta hål i sin centrala region, trots att den saknar en central utbuktning.
Denna galax ligger i stjärnbilden Vattenormen (Hydra) och kan ses med ett måttligt stort teleskop. Bilden är tagen med B-, V- och I-filter med FORS1-instrumentet på VLT och visar fina detaljer i detta udda objekt, liksom en mängd bakgrundsgalaxer. Ett antal ljusa förgrundsstjärnor som tillhör vår egen Vintergata är också synliga.
Källa:ESO
Om bilden
| ID: | potw1148a |
| Språk: | sv |
| Typ: | Observation |
| Publiceringsdatum: | 28 november 2011 10:00 |
| Relaterade pressmeddelanden: | eso2520 |
| Storlek: | 2044 x 2044 px |
Om objektet
| Namn: | NGC 3621 |
| Typ: | Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral Local Universe : Galaxy : Component : Central Black Hole |
| Avstånd: | 22 miljon ljusår |
| Constellation: | Hydra |
Skrivbordsunderlägg
Koordinater
| Position (RA): | 11 18 16.56 |
| Position (Dec): | -32° 48' 50.91" |
| Field of view: | 6.81 x 6.81 arcminutes |
| Orientering: | Nord är 89.8° vänster om lodrätt |
Färger och filter
| Band | Teleskop |
|---|---|
| Synligt ljus B | Very Large Telescope FORS1 |
| Synligt ljus V | Very Large Telescope FORS1 |
| Infrarött I | Very Large Telescope FORS1 |
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