NGC 6240, 2 (of 2) (IMAGE)

University of California - Riverside

NGC 6240, 2 (of 2)

Caption

An adaptive optics image of the double nucleus of the galaxy merger NGC 6240, taken in infrared light with the Keck II Telescope. The feature within the north nucleus labeled "North 2" is at the position of the northern supermassive black hole. The southern supermassive black hole is located just north (above) the feature labeled "South 1" in the south nucleus. The yellow vertical line represents one second of arc, or 490 parsecs at the distance of NGC 6240.

Credit

C. Max, G. Canalizo, and W. de Vries

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