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Hubble Measures Velocity of Gas Orbiting Black Hole
About the Object
- R.A. PositionR.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.12h 30m 49.42s
- Dec. PositionDec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.12° 23' 27.99"
- Object NameObject NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.M87, NGC 4486
- Release DateMay 25, 1994
- Science ReleaseHubble Confirms Existence of Massive Black Hole at Heart of Active Galaxy
- CreditHolland Ford, Space Telescope Science Institute/Johns Hopkins University; Richard Harms, Applied Research Corp.; Zlatan Tsvetanov, Arthur Davidsen, and Gerard Kriss at Johns Hopkins; Ralph Bohlin and George Hartig at Space Telescope Science Institute; Linda Dressel and Ajay K. Kochhar at Applied Research Corp. in Landover, Md.; and Bruce Margon from the University of Washington in Seattle.; NASA
Related Images & Videos
Spiral Gas Disk in Active Galaxy M87
A NASA Hubble Space Telescope image of a spiral-shaped disk of hot gas in the core of active galaxy M87. HST measurements show the disk is rotating so rapidly it contains a massive black hole at its hub. A black hole is an object that is so massive yet compact nothing can escape...
Hubble Measures Velocity of Gas Orbiting Black Hole
A schematic diagram of velocity measurements of a rotating disk of hot gas in the core of active galaxy M87. The measurement was made by studying how the light from the disk is redshifted and blueshifted – as part of the swirling disk spins in earth's direction and the other...
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Last Updated
Aug 17, 2025
Contact
Media
Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov
