A double Nucleus in an active galaxy
A NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image of the core of the Seyfert galaxy Markarian 315 reveals two nuclei located approximately 6,000light-years apart. (Seyfert galaxies are a class of spiral galaxy with extremely bright nuclei that are thought to be powered by massive black holes accreting matter.)
The brighter member of the pair is the energetic core of the galaxy which probably contains a black hole. The fainter companion is considered to be the core of a galaxy in the process of merging with Markarian 315.
Credit:About the Image
About the Object
| Name: | Markarian 315 |
| Type: | Local Universe : Galaxy : Activity : AGN : Seyfert |
| Distance: | 550 million light years |
| Category: | Quasars and Black Holes |
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
|---|---|---|
| Infrared Near-IR | 890 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC1 |