Active Galaxy NGC 4438
A monstrous black hole's rude table manners include blowing huge bubbles of hot gas into space. At least, that's the gustatory practice followed by the supermassive black hole residing in the hub of the nearby galaxy NGC 4438. Known as a peculiar galaxy because of its unusual shape, NGC 4438 is in the Virgo Cluster, 50 million light-years from Earth.
Credit:
About the Image
NASA press release
NASA caption
NASA caption
| Id: | opo0021b |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 5 June 2000, 16:30 |
| Size: | 316 x 245 px |
About the Object
| Name: | IRAS 12252+1317, NGC 4438 |
| Type: | • Local Universe : Galaxy : Component : Central Black Hole |
| Distance: | 50 million light years |
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
| Optical B |
450 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Optical R |
675 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Optical NII |
658 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Infrared I |
814 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Optical H-alpha |
656 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
