Astronomy Picture of the Day - The Shells and Jets of Galaxy Centaurus A

By Free Republic | Created at 2024-12-11 20:37:57 | Updated at 2024-12-24 17:28:28 1 week ago

Astronomy Picture of the Day - The Shells and Jets of Galaxy Centaurus A
NASA ^ | 11 Dec, 2024 | Image Credit: Rolf Olsen

Posted on 12/11/2024 12:19:56 PM PST by MtnClimber

Explanation: What's the closest active galaxy to planet Earth? That would be Centaurus A, cataloged as NGC 5128, which is only 12 million light-years distant. Forged in a collision of two otherwise normal galaxies, Centaurus A shows several distinctive features including a dark dust lane across its center, outer shells of stars and gas, and jets of particles shooting out from a supermassive black hole at its center. The featured image captures all of these in a composite series of visible light images totaling over 310 hours captured over the past 10 years with a homebuilt telescope operating in Auckland, New Zealand. The brightness of Cen A's center from low-energy radio waves to high-energy gamma rays underlies its designation as an active galaxy.

TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa

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1 posted on 12/11/2024 12:19:56 PM PST by MtnClimber

To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 12/11/2024 12:20:12 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)

To: MtnClimber

3 posted on 12/11/2024 12:20:30 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)

To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...

Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

4 posted on 12/11/2024 12:21:15 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)

To: MtnClimber

I can see how the Robinsons got lost.

5 posted on 12/11/2024 12:24:34 PM PST by NavyShoe

To: MtnClimber

When you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way
From your first cigarette to your last dyin’ day
When you’re a Jet, let ‘em do what they can
You got brothers around, you’re a family man

To: ClearCase_guy

J-E-T-S Jets! Jets! Jets!

7 posted on 12/11/2024 12:37:28 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)

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