1. Multiwavelength views of Centaurus A
QuicktimeMPEG This sequence of images of the galaxy Centaurus A begins with the deep Chandra X-ray Observatory image, then shows the radio image from the Very Large Array, then the optical image from the ESO's Wide-Field Imager (WFI) camera at the ESO/MPG 2.2-m telescope on La Silla. Finally, a composite image with all three wavelengths is shown.
[Runtime: 0:14]
(X-ray X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/R.Kraft et al; Radio: NSF/VLA/Univ.Hertfordshire/M.Hardcastle; Optical: ESO/VLT/ISAAC/M.Rejkuba et al.)
Related Chandra Images:
QuicktimeMPEG This sequence of images of the galaxy Centaurus A begins with the deep Chandra X-ray Observatory image, then shows the radio image from the Very Large Array, then the optical image from the ESO's Wide-Field Imager (WFI) camera at the ESO/MPG 2.2-m telescope on La Silla. Finally, a composite image with all three wavelengths is shown.
[Runtime: 0:14]
(X-ray X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/R.Kraft et al; Radio: NSF/VLA/Univ.Hertfordshire/M.Hardcastle; Optical: ESO/VLT/ISAAC/M.Rejkuba et al.)
Related Chandra Images:
- Photo Album: Centaurus A
2. Comparison of 3C321 Composite to Artist's Illustration
QuicktimeMPEG
This sequence compares the composite image of 3C321 to an artist's illustration of the system, showing the main galaxy and the companion galaxy. A jet of particles generated by a supermassive black hole at the center of the main galaxy is striking the companion galaxy. The jet is disrupted and deflected by this impact. The key features of this system are labeled in the final view.
[Runtime: 0:14]
(Image: X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/D.Evans et al.; Optical/UV: NASA/STScI; Radio: NSF/VLA/CfA/D.Evans et al., STFC/JBO/MERLIN; Illustration: NASA/CXC/M. Weiss)
Related Chandra Images:
QuicktimeMPEG
This sequence compares the composite image of 3C321 to an artist's illustration of the system, showing the main galaxy and the companion galaxy. A jet of particles generated by a supermassive black hole at the center of the main galaxy is striking the companion galaxy. The jet is disrupted and deflected by this impact. The key features of this system are labeled in the final view.
[Runtime: 0:14]
(Image: X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/D.Evans et al.; Optical/UV: NASA/STScI; Radio: NSF/VLA/CfA/D.Evans et al., STFC/JBO/MERLIN; Illustration: NASA/CXC/M. Weiss)
Related Chandra Images:
- Photo Album: 3C321
3. Multiwavelength Images of 3C321
QuicktimeMPEG
This series of images shows how 3C321 looks in a variety of types of radiation. Beginning with a wide-field view of X-ray and radio emission, the image reveals jets that extend for about 1.7 million light years before zooming into the central two galaxies. Optical and ultraviolet data from Hubble, radio emission from the Very Large Array and MERLIN, and X-rays from Chandra combine to reveal how the jet from the main galaxy on the lower left is striking its companion galaxy to the upper right. The jet impacts the companion galaxy at its edge and is then disrupted and deflected, much like how a stream of water from a hose will splay out after hitting a wall at an angle.
[Runtime: 0:23]
(X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/D.Evans et al.; Optical/UV: NASA/STScI; Radio: NSF/VLA/CfA/D.Evans et al., STFC/JBO/MERLIN)
Related Chandra Images:
QuicktimeMPEG
This series of images shows how 3C321 looks in a variety of types of radiation. Beginning with a wide-field view of X-ray and radio emission, the image reveals jets that extend for about 1.7 million light years before zooming into the central two galaxies. Optical and ultraviolet data from Hubble, radio emission from the Very Large Array and MERLIN, and X-rays from Chandra combine to reveal how the jet from the main galaxy on the lower left is striking its companion galaxy to the upper right. The jet impacts the companion galaxy at its edge and is then disrupted and deflected, much like how a stream of water from a hose will splay out after hitting a wall at an angle.
[Runtime: 0:23]
(X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/D.Evans et al.; Optical/UV: NASA/STScI; Radio: NSF/VLA/CfA/D.Evans et al., STFC/JBO/MERLIN)
Related Chandra Images:
- Photo Album: 3C321
4. Animation of 3C321
QuicktimeMPEG
This animation of 3C321 begins with a close-up of the supermassive black hole in the center of the main galaxy. Hot gas is falling towards the black hole via a blue disk. Some of this material is swallowed by the black hole, but much of it is ejected in a narrow jet of particles traveling at almost the speed of light. The camera then pulls back to show stars and a dust lane in the main galaxy. As the field of view continues to increase in size, the companion galaxy becomes visible as it swings into the path of the jet from the main galaxy. The jet is deflected and disrupted by the impact with the companion galaxy.
[Runtime: 0:46]
(NASA/STScI/G. Bacon)
Related Chandra Images:
QuicktimeMPEG
This animation of 3C321 begins with a close-up of the supermassive black hole in the center of the main galaxy. Hot gas is falling towards the black hole via a blue disk. Some of this material is swallowed by the black hole, but much of it is ejected in a narrow jet of particles traveling at almost the speed of light. The camera then pulls back to show stars and a dust lane in the main galaxy. As the field of view continues to increase in size, the companion galaxy becomes visible as it swings into the path of the jet from the main galaxy. The jet is deflected and disrupted by the impact with the companion galaxy.
[Runtime: 0:46]
(NASA/STScI/G. Bacon)
Related Chandra Images:
- Photo Album: 3C321
5. A Multiwavelength View of NGC 4258
QuicktimeMPEG For decades, astronomers have known about the so-called anomalous arms in the spiral galaxy NGC 4258. This motion graphic shows NGC 4258 from the viewpoint of multiple space and ground-based observations. Visible light (seen in gold) from the Digitized Sky Survey and infrared light (red) from the Spitzer Space Telescope reveals two prominent arms. However, radio data (purple) from the Very Large Array and X-ray data (blue) from Chandra show two additional, offset arms. By combining all of these data, scientists have found evidence that the mysterious X-ray arms are due to shock waves generated by the supermassive black hole in the nucleus of NGC 4258. The shock waves heat the gas in the disk, causing it to radiate brightly in X-rays and other wavelengths.
[Runtime: 0:18]
(X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Maryland/A.S. Wilson et al. Optical: Optical: Pal.Obs. DSS; IR: NASA/JPL-Caltech; VLA: NRAO/AUI/NSF)
Related Chandra Images:
QuicktimeMPEG For decades, astronomers have known about the so-called anomalous arms in the spiral galaxy NGC 4258. This motion graphic shows NGC 4258 from the viewpoint of multiple space and ground-based observations. Visible light (seen in gold) from the Digitized Sky Survey and infrared light (red) from the Spitzer Space Telescope reveals two prominent arms. However, radio data (purple) from the Very Large Array and X-ray data (blue) from Chandra show two additional, offset arms. By combining all of these data, scientists have found evidence that the mysterious X-ray arms are due to shock waves generated by the supermassive black hole in the nucleus of NGC 4258. The shock waves heat the gas in the disk, causing it to radiate brightly in X-rays and other wavelengths.
[Runtime: 0:18]
(X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Maryland/A.S. Wilson et al. Optical: Optical: Pal.Obs. DSS; IR: NASA/JPL-Caltech; VLA: NRAO/AUI/NSF)
Related Chandra Images:
- Photo Album: NGC 4258
6. Sequence of M87 Images
QuicktimeMPEG This sequence begins with an optical view of M87, a giant elliptical galaxy only 50 million light years away in the Virgo cluster. X-ray data (red) are then overlaid and reveal a series of loops and bubbles in the hot gas that surrounds the galaxy and fills the cluster. These are evidence of repeated outbursts from close to the supermassive black hole in M87, which are responsible for producing sound throughout the cluster.
[Runtime: 0:23]
(X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/W.Forman et al.; Optical: DSS)
Related Chandra Images:
QuicktimeMPEG This sequence begins with an optical view of M87, a giant elliptical galaxy only 50 million light years away in the Virgo cluster. X-ray data (red) are then overlaid and reveal a series of loops and bubbles in the hot gas that surrounds the galaxy and fills the cluster. These are evidence of repeated outbursts from close to the supermassive black hole in M87, which are responsible for producing sound throughout the cluster.
[Runtime: 0:23]
(X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/W.Forman et al.; Optical: DSS)
Related Chandra Images:
- Photo Album: M87
7. Different Views of 3C442A
QuicktimeMPEG This sequence begins with an optical view of the region around the 3C442A system. After zooming in, the Chandra X-ray and VLA radio images appear, showing the dramatic difference between what is seen in various wavelengths. There are two galaxies near the middle of 3C442A which are in the process of merging. These two galaxies are on their second pass toward a collision, having already experienced a close encounter.
[Runtime: 0:16]
(X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Bristol/Worrall et al.; Radio: NRAO/AUI/NSF; Optical: Pal.Obs. DSS)
Related Chandra Images:
QuicktimeMPEG This sequence begins with an optical view of the region around the 3C442A system. After zooming in, the Chandra X-ray and VLA radio images appear, showing the dramatic difference between what is seen in various wavelengths. There are two galaxies near the middle of 3C442A which are in the process of merging. These two galaxies are on their second pass toward a collision, having already experienced a close encounter.
[Runtime: 0:16]
(X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Bristol/Worrall et al.; Radio: NRAO/AUI/NSF; Optical: Pal.Obs. DSS)
Related Chandra Images:
- Photo Album: 3C442A
8. Comparing Different Black Holes
QuicktimeMPEG
This sequence shows four black holes from the Bootes field. The first two black holes are obscured by thick rings of gas. Because such a ring blocks certain types of radiation, these black holes are only are seen in X-ray (blue) and infrared (red) light. The last two black holes are not enshrouded by this ring of material, and, therefore, emit X-ray, infrared, and optical (green) radiation. These objects helps astronomers better understand the properties of these monster black holes.
[Runtime: 0:08]
(X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/R.Hickox et al.; Infrared: NASA/JPL/Caltech/P.Eisenhardt & D.Stern et al.; Optical: NOAO/B.Jannuzi & A.Dey et al.)
Related Chandra Images:
QuicktimeMPEG
This sequence shows four black holes from the Bootes field. The first two black holes are obscured by thick rings of gas. Because such a ring blocks certain types of radiation, these black holes are only are seen in X-ray (blue) and infrared (red) light. The last two black holes are not enshrouded by this ring of material, and, therefore, emit X-ray, infrared, and optical (green) radiation. These objects helps astronomers better understand the properties of these monster black holes.
[Runtime: 0:08]
(X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/R.Hickox et al.; Infrared: NASA/JPL/Caltech/P.Eisenhardt & D.Stern et al.; Optical: NOAO/B.Jannuzi & A.Dey et al.)
Related Chandra Images:
- Photo Album: XRF 060218
9. Scale Chandra Images to Full Moon
QuicktimeMPEG This survey, taken in a region of the Bootes constellation, involved 126 separate Chandra exposures of 5,000-seconds each, making it the largest contiguous field ever obtained by the observatory. At 9.3 square degrees, it is over 40 times larger than the full moon seen on the night sky, which is shown in this graphic for scale.
[Runtime: 0:12]
(X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/R.Hickox et al.; Moon: NASA/JPL)
Related Chandra Images:
QuicktimeMPEG This survey, taken in a region of the Bootes constellation, involved 126 separate Chandra exposures of 5,000-seconds each, making it the largest contiguous field ever obtained by the observatory. At 9.3 square degrees, it is over 40 times larger than the full moon seen on the night sky, which is shown in this graphic for scale.
[Runtime: 0:12]
(X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/R.Hickox et al.; Moon: NASA/JPL)
Related Chandra Images:
- Photo Album: Bootes Field
10. Animation of Eruption from Supermassive Black Hole
QuicktimeMPEG
This animation depicts an eruption caused by a supermassive black hole. Gas and dust (reddish-brown disk) are being pulled around by the enormous gravity of the supermassive black hole, which is buried in the center of a large elliptical galaxy. The animation then zooms out to show the full view of the galaxy, which is surrounded by hot gas (red) that pervades the galaxy cluster. White jets, fueled from material falling onto the black hole, then erupt from the black hole and push gas backwards to create the dark cavities in the cluster gas.
[Runtime: 0:17]
View Stills
(NASA/CXC/A.Hobart)
Related Chandra Images:
QuicktimeMPEG
This animation depicts an eruption caused by a supermassive black hole. Gas and dust (reddish-brown disk) are being pulled around by the enormous gravity of the supermassive black hole, which is buried in the center of a large elliptical galaxy. The animation then zooms out to show the full view of the galaxy, which is surrounded by hot gas (red) that pervades the galaxy cluster. White jets, fueled from material falling onto the black hole, then erupt from the black hole and push gas backwards to create the dark cavities in the cluster gas.
[Runtime: 0:17]
View Stills
(NASA/CXC/A.Hobart)
Related Chandra Images:
- Photo Album: MS 0735.6+7421
Revised: December 08, 2011