C52 (NGC 4697)
Caldwell 52 is the most prominent member of a collection of galaxies known as the NGC 4697 Group. Slightly larger than the Andromeda galaxy, this massive elliptical dominates its group, distorting its neighbors with its gravitational influence. By observing the motion of Caldwell 52’s stars close to the galaxy’s center, astronomers were able to identify what is likely a supermassive black hole in the heart of the galaxy. This black hole is roughly 100 million times as massive as the Sun.
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and C. Sarazin (University of Virginia); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)
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https://science.nasa.gov/image-detail/ngc4697_acs_7_final/
Image CreditNASA, ESA, and C. Sarazin (University of Virginia); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)
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