CXC Home | Search | Help | Image Use Policy | Latest Images | Privacy | Accessibility | Glossary | Q&A
1
Illustration of Sgr A*
The artist's illustrations represent a possible explanation for a recent increase in X-ray flares from Sgr A* seen by three telescopes including Chandra. As part of a long monitoring campaign, astronomers observed Sgr A* as a mysterious object called G2 appeared to pass close to the Milky Way's supermassive black hole. The timing of G2's passage could suggest that material from G2 caused the surge in X-ray activity, but it is also possible that this unrelated behavior of Sgr A*.
(Credit: Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
The artist's illustrations represent a possible explanation for a recent increase in X-ray flares from Sgr A* seen by three telescopes including Chandra. As part of a long monitoring campaign, astronomers observed Sgr A* as a mysterious object called G2 appeared to pass close to the Milky Way's supermassive black hole. The timing of G2's passage could suggest that material from G2 caused the surge in X-ray activity, but it is also possible that this unrelated behavior of Sgr A*.
(Credit: Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
2
X-ray Close-up of Sgr A*
This image shows Chandra's view of the region around Sgr A*, where red, green, and blue show low, medium, and high-energy X-rays detected by Chandra, respectively. Sgr A* is the 4-million-solar-mass black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy.
(Credit: NASA/CXC/MPE/G.Ponti et al.)
This image shows Chandra's view of the region around Sgr A*, where red, green, and blue show low, medium, and high-energy X-rays detected by Chandra, respectively. Sgr A* is the 4-million-solar-mass black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy.
(Credit: NASA/CXC/MPE/G.Ponti et al.)
Return to Sagittarius A* (September 23, 2015)
Revised: November 29, 2022