Images by Date
Images by Category
Solar System
Stars
Exoplanets
White Dwarfs
Supernovas
Neutron Stars
Black Holes
Milky Way Galaxy
Normal Galaxies
Quasars
Galaxy Clusters
Cosmology/Deep Field
Miscellaneous
Images by Interest
Space Scoop for Kids
4K JPG
Multiwavelength
Sky Map
Constellations
Photo Blog
Top Rated Images
Image Handouts
Desktops
Fits Files
Visual descriptions
Image Tutorials
Photo Album Tutorial
False Color
Cosmic Distance
Look-Back Time
Scale & Distance
Angular Measurement
Images & Processing
AVM/Metadata
Image Use Policy
Web Shortcuts
Chandra Blog
RSS Feed
Chronicle
Email Newsletter
News & Noteworthy
Image Use Policy
Questions & Answers
Glossary of Terms
Download Guide
Get Adobe Reader
More Images of Sagittarius A*
1
Click for large jpg Asteroid heading towards black hole
Jpeg, Tif
Click for large jpg Tidal forces tear up asteroid
Jpeg, Tif
Click for large jpgAsteroid is vaporized and flare occurs
Jpeg, Tif

Illustration of a Doomed Asteroid
A new study provides a possible explanation of mysterious X-ray flares detected by Chandra over the period of several years. It suggests that there is a cloud around Sgr A* containing hundreds of trillions of asteroids and comets, stripped from their parent stars. The flares occur when asteroids of six miles or larger in radius are consumed by the black hole. An asteroid that undergoes a close encounter with another object, such as a star or planet, can be thrown into an orbit headed towards Sgr A*, as seen in this series of artist's illustrations. If the asteroid passes within about 100 million miles of the black hole, roughly the distance between the Earth and the Sun, it would be torn into pieces by the tidal forces from the black hole. These fragments would then be vaporized by friction as they pass through the hot, thin gas flowing onto Sgr A*, similar to a meteor heating up and glowing as it falls through Earth's atmosphere. A flare is produced and eventually the remains of the asteroid are swallowed by the black hole.
(Credit: Illustrations: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
2
Click for large jpg unlabeled
Jpeg, Tif
Click for large jpg labeled
Jpeg, Tif

Chandra X-ray Image of Sgr A*
Over several years, astronomers have noticed flares in X-ray light of the black hole at the center of the Milky Way. NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory detected these flares during observations that the telescope makes of the black hole periodically. A new study suggests that these flares may occur when the black hole -- known as Sagittarrius A* or Sgr A* for short -- consumes an asteroid at least six miles wide. If an asteroid get too close to another object like as a star or planet, it can be thrown into an orbit headed towards Sgr A*. Once the asteroid passes within about 100 million miles of the black hole, it is torn into pieces by the black hole's tidal forces. Eventually, these fragments are vaporized by friction as they pass through the hot, thin gas flowing onto Sgr A*. This is what produces an X-ray flare. If confirmed, this result could mean that there is a cloud around Sgr A* containing hundreds of trillions of asteroids and comets. This would be an exciting development for the many scientists who are fascinated by the Milky Way's giant black hole and environment around it.
(Credit: NASA/CXC/MIT/F.K. Baganoff et al./E. Slawik )


Return to Sagittarius A* (February 8, 2012)