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NOAO/CTIO (Ground)

NOAO/CTIO (Ground)
Centaurus A galaxy, type EO peculiar elliptical, also radio source. CTIO 4-meter telescope, 1975. NGC 5128, a Type EO peculiar elliptical galaxy in the constellation Centaurus. This galaxy is one of the most luminous and massive galaxies known and is a strong source of both radio and X-ray radiation. Current theories suggest that the nucleus is experiencing giant explosions involving millions of stars and that the dark band across the galactic disk is material being ejected outward. Cerro Toloto 4-meter telescope photo.
  • Object Name
    Object NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.
    Centaurus A
  • Release Date
    May 14, 1998
  • Science Release
    Hubble Provides Multiple Views of How to Feed a Black Hole
    Read the release
  • Credit
    Credit: National Optical Astronomy Observatories

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Related Images & Videos

Turbulent Cauldron of Starbirth in Galaxy Centaurus A, With Ground View (inset)

Turbulent Cauldron of Starbirth in Galaxy Centaurus A, With Ground View (inset)

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope offers a stunning unprecedented close-up view of a turbulent firestorm of starbirth along a nearly edge-on dust disk girdling Centaurus A, the nearest active galaxy to Earth. A ground-based telescopic view (upper left insert) shows that the dust...

Centaurus A: the Inside Story

Centaurus A: the Inside Story

Astronomers have used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to probe the core of the nearest active galaxy to Earth, Centaurus A. [UPPER LEFT] - A close-up high resolution Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 image of the dramatic dust disk which is thought to be the remnant of a smaller...

Nearby Galaxy Centaurus A

Nearby Galaxy Centaurus A

Ground-Based Color Composite NOAO CTIO 4m 1975

Ground-Based Color Composite NOAO CTIO 4m 1975

Nucleus of Galaxy Centaurus A

Nucleus of Galaxy Centaurus A

NICMOS Pa-alpha/continuum composite

NICMOS Pa-alpha/continuum composite

VLA 6cm (Radio) 1988

VLA 6cm (Radio) 1988

Galaxy Centaurus A

Galaxy Centaurus A

Nucleus of Galaxy Centaurus A

Nucleus of Galaxy Centaurus A

NICMOS Pa-alpha/continuum composite

NICMOS Pa-alpha/continuum composite

VLA and Optical

VLA and Optical

Einstein X-ray 1979 deconvolved

Einstein X-ray 1979 deconvolved

Einstein with Radio contours

Einstein with Radio contours

NGC 4261 WFPC with illustration of jet.

NGC 4261 WFPC with illustration of jet.

Hubble Finds Twisted Gas Disk from Galaxy Collision Fueling Nearst Active Black Hole

Hubble Finds Twisted Gas Disk from Galaxy Collision Fueling Nearst Active Black Hole

Hubble Finds Twisted Gas Disk from Galaxy Collision Fueling Nearst Active Black Hole

Feeding a Black Hole in the Centaurus A Galaxy

From the NICMOS image we have seen that behind the obscuring dust, inside the Centaurus A Galaxy, there are a hot gas disk and a twisted jet and disk around a feeding black hole.

Hubble Finds Twisted Gas Disk from Galaxy Collision Fueling Nearst Active Black Hole

Simulation of a Merger between an Elliptical and a Spiral Galaxy

Simulation of a merger between an elliptical and a spiral galaxy that may have shaped Centaurus A, dissolving to match to the ground-based image of the galaxy.

Hubble Finds Twisted Gas Disk from Galaxy Collision Fueling Nearst Active Black Hole

Back Hole 'Feeding' Diagram

HST/NICMOS image with superimposed diagram to identify the nucleus, the elongated disk and the jet.

Hubble Finds Twisted Gas Disk from Galaxy Collision Fueling Nearst Active Black Hole

Centaurus A: Feeding a Black Hole

Zoom Sequence: Ground-based image of Centaurus A, ZOOM into the Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 Camera images of Centaurus A and its Nucleus, DISSOLVE in the HST NICMOS infrared image. The animation shows what is seen from the NICMOS image: inside the galaxy are a hot gas disk and...

Hubble Finds Twisted Gas Disk from Galaxy Collision Fueling Nearst Active Black Hole

Space Science Update: Hubble Provides Multiple Views Of How To Feed A Black Hole (Webbcast)

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Details

Last Updated
Mar 28, 2025
Contact
Media

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov

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