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Hubble ACS image of NGC 1275
This Hubble Space Telescope image of galaxy NGC 1275 reveals the fine, thread-like filamentary structures in the gas surrounding the galaxy. The red filaments are composed of cool gas being suspended by a magnetic field, and are surrounded by the 100-million-degree Fahrenheit hot gas in the center of the Perseus galaxy cluster.
The filaments are dramatic markers of the feedback process through which energy is transferred from the central massive black hole to the surrounding gas. The filaments originate when cool gas is transported from the center of the galaxy by radio bubbles that rise in the hot interstellar gas.
At a distance of 230 million light-years, NGC 1275 is one of the closest giant elliptical galaxies and lies at the center of the Perseus cluster of galaxies.
The galaxy was photographed in July and August 2006 with the Advanced Camera for Surveys in three color filters.
About the Object
- R.A. PositionR.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.03h 19m 48.15s
- Dec. PositionDec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.41° 30' 42.09"
- ConstellationConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.Perseus
- DistanceDistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.About 230 million light-years (70 Megaparsecs)
- DimensionsDimensionsThe physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky.The image is roughly 4 arcminutes (260,000 light-years or 78,000 parsecs) across.
About the Data
- Data DescriptionData DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.HST Proposal: 10546 A. Fabian and C. Crawford (Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK), C. Conselice (University of Nottingham), and J. Gallager and E. Zweibel (University of Wisconsin, Madison). - InstrumentInstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.HST>ACS/WFC
- Exposure DatesExposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.July and August, 2006
- FiltersFiltersThe camera filters that were used in the science observations.F435W (B), F550W (V), and F625W (r)
- Object NameObject NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.NGC 1275, Perseus A, 3C 84
- Object DescriptionObject DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.Active Galaxy
- Release DateAugust 20, 2008
- Science ReleaseHubble Sees Magnetic Monster in Erupting Galaxy
- Credits
These images are a composite of separate exposures made by the ACS instrument on the Hubble Space Telescope. Three filters were used to sample various broad wavelength ranges. The color results from assigning different hues (colors) to each monochromatic image. In this case, the assigned colors are: Blue: F435W (B) Green: F550W (V) Red: F625W (r)
Related Images & Videos
NGC 1275 (Perseus A) Multi-wavelength Composite
The active galaxy NGC 1275 is also a well-known radio source (Perseus A) and a strong emitter of X-rays due to the presence of a black hole in the center of the galaxy. The behemoth also lies at the center of the cluster of galaxies known as the Perseus Cluster. By combining...
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Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov
