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More Images of Sagittarius A*
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Chandra Image of Sgr A* with
Labels
This annotated Chandra image marks the location of the
X-ray source associated with the supermassive black
hole, Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), at the center of our Galaxy. Also marked on this image are newly
discovered large lobes of multimillion-degree gas that
extend for dozens of light years on either side of the
black hole.
Scale: Image is 8.4 arcmin
per side
(Credit: NASA/CXC/MIT/F.K.
Baganoff et al.)
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Chandra Close-up of Sgr A* &
X-ray Jet
A close-up of Chandra image of the Galactic center
shows the location of the supermassive black hole Sgr
A* and an X-ray jet. This suspected jet is 1.5 light
years in length and is due to high-energy particles
ejected from the vicinity of the black hole. This image
is color coded by intensity from 2.0-8.0 keV.
Scale: Image is 1.23 arcmin
per side
(Credit: NASA/CXC/MIT/F.K.
Baganoff et al.)
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Chandra Close-up of Sgr A* &
X-ray Jet with Labels
This annotated Chandra close-up of the Galactic center
shows the location of the supermassive black hole Sgr
A* and an X-ray jet. This suspected jet is 1.5 light
years in length and is due to high-energy particles
ejected from the vicinity of the black hole. This image
is color coded by intensity from 2.0-8.0 keV.
Scale: Image is 1.23 arcmin
per side
(Credit: NASA/CXC/MIT/F.K.
Baganoff et al.)
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Chandra Full-Field of Sgr A*
Chandra detected almost daily outbursts of X-rays from
the gas around the black hole Sgr A* during
observations in late May and early June 2002.
Astronomers also discovered huge lobes of
20-million-degree Centigrade gas, which indicate that
enormous explosions occurred near the black hole
several times over the last ten thousand years. This
full-field image of Sgr A* is color coded by intensity
to show X-rays from 3.3-4.7 keV.
Scale: Image is 17.5 x 14.5
arcmin
(Credit: NASA/CXC/MIT/F.K.
Baganoff et al.)
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Chandra Labeled Image of Sagittarius A Region
There are many complex structures located at the center of our Galaxy,
many of which Chandra has observed through X-rays. The general area
around the Milky Way's center is known as "Sagittarius A". Within that,
there are two components known as "Sgr A East" and "Sgr A West".
Astronomers think that Sgr A East (large, dotted ellipse) may be the
remnant of a supernova that exploded thousands of years ago. Sgr A West
(smaller, solid ellipse) is a spiral-shaped group of gas streamers that
might be falling into "Sgr A*", the name of the supermassive black hole
at the center of the Milky Way.
Scale: Image is 8.4 arcmin per side
(Credit: NASA/CXC/MIT/F.K.Baganoff et al.)
Related Chandra Image: Sagittarius A East
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Chandra X-ray Image with Scale
Bar
Scale bar = 1.6 arcmin
(Credit: NASA/CXC/MIT/F.K.Baganoff et al.)
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Return to Sagittarius A* (06 Jan 03)
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