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> Black Holes in 3C75

Black Holes in 3C75

author: Nasa/CXC/NRAO/Novapix

reference: a-gax94-01500

Image Size 300 DPI: 20 * 20 cm

This composite X-ray/radio image of Abell 400 shows radio jets (pink), immersed in a vast cloud of multimillion degree X-ray emitting gas (blue) that pervades the cluster. The jets emanate from the vicinity of two supermassive black holes (bright spots in the image) in the galaxy. Chandra and radio data confirm that the unusual structure is due to the merger of two large galaxies, whose supermassive black holes are bound together by their mutual gravity. The swept-back appearance of the radio jets is produced by the rapid motion of the galaxy through the hot gas of the cluster, in much the same way that a motorcyclist's scarf is swept back while speeding down the road.

Keywords for this photo:

3C75 - ABELL 400 - ACTIVE GALAXY - ASTRONOMY - BLACK HOLE - CHANDRA - COMPOSITE - GALAXY - INTERACTING - JET - RADIO - RADIOGALAXY - SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE - X - X-RAY -