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Back Core of Galaxy NGC 4261- Artist Concept

Core of Galaxy NGC 4261- Artist Concept


Depicts: NGC 4261
Copyright: J. Gitlin (Space Telescope Science Institute)

This is an illustration of how the night sky might look to a dweller in the core of galaxy NGC 4261, which harbors an 800-light-year-wide disk of dust and 1.2 billion-solar-mass black hole.

This imaginary view is from a hypothetical planet inside the dust dusk, looking toward the black hole. The black hole's white-hot glow from super-heated gas is reddened by intervening dust.

Last Update: 1 September 2019
14-Mar-2026 08:06 UT

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