Centaurus A Galaxy • NGC 5128
Credit: NASA/CFX/CfA,MPiFR/ESO/APEX
Observers: Ralph Kraft,Axel Weiss
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One of the most luminous and massive galaxies known, Centaurus A is a strong source of both radio and X-ray radiation. The supermassive black hole at its center is highly active, ejecting 13,000-light-year-long jets of superheated gas (blue) and cooler matter (orange) from the disk of the galaxy. The material in the jets travels about 9 million km per minute - half the speed of light.