NOAO Optical and Chandra X-ray Sequence of M74
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This sequence starts with an optical image of the galaxy M74 (a.k.a. NGC 628), which is about 32 million light years from Earth in the constellation Pisces. The view then adds Chandra's X-ray image and zooms onto one source in the galaxy's spiral arm. Astronomers believe this object, named CXOU J013651.1+154547, is a medium-size black hole, which would bridge the size gap between other known black holes.
[Run time: 0:22]
(Animation: X-ray: NASA/CXC/U. of Michigan/J.Liu et al.; Optical: NOAO/AURA/NSF/T.Boroson)