Centaurus A is a radio galaxy that is the nearest active, supermassive black hole in the Universe. This image is the first to show its full extent at radio wavelengths, covering almost 10 degrees from end to end, and twice the extent of the Southern Cross. The huge reddish radio lobes combine data from the Parkes radio telescope and the Australia Telescope Compact Array at Narrabri. At the centre of the lobes is the optical image of the galaxy known as NGC 5128. This was also discovered in Australia, by James Dunlop, at Parramatta Observatory, in 1826. This inner image (inset right) is pretty stunning too, and includes submillimeter radio data (orange) and Xray data (blue).
Outer image credit: Ilana Feain, Tim Cornwell & Ron Ekers (CSIRO/ATNF). ATCA northern middle lobe pointing courtesy R. Morganti (ASTRON); Parkes data courtesy N. Junkes (MPIfR).
Inner image credit: (Optical), ESO/WFI/AAO (UKST); (Submillimetre), MPIfR/ESO/APEX/A.Weiss et al.; (X-ray) NASA/CXC/CfA/R.Kraft et al.
Inner and outer images combined by David Malin.
Post by David Malin, From Earth to the Universe team.
