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Explanation: Only 11 million light-years away, Centaurus A is the closest active galaxy to planet Earth. Spanning over 60,000 light-years, the peculiar elliptical galaxy also known as NGC 5128, is featured in this sharp telescopic view. Centaurus A is apparently the result of a collision of two otherwise normal galaxies resulting in a fantastic jumble of star clusters and imposing dark dust lanes. Near the galaxy's center, left over cosmic debris is steadily being consumed by a central black hole with a billion times the mass of the Sun. As in other active galaxies, that process likely generates the radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray energy radiated by Centaurus A.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: active galaxy - Centaurus A - NGC 5128
Publications with words: active galaxy - Centaurus A - NGC 5128
See also:
- APOD: 2025 December 2 B M77: Spiral Galaxy with an Active Center
- APOD: 2024 December 11 B The Shells and Jets of Galaxy Centaurus A
- APOD: 2023 May 3 B Centaurus A: A Peculiar Island of Stars
- Active Galaxy NGC 1275
- Centaurus A
- Nearby Spiral Galaxy NGC 4945
- Dancing Ghosts: Curved Jets from Active Galaxies