The centre of the Milky Way

Image of the galactic centre. For the interferometric GRAVITY observations the star IRS 16C was used as a reference star, the actual target was the star S2. The position of the centre, which harbours the (invisible) black hole known as Sgr A*,with 4 million solar masses, is marked by the orange cross.

Credit:

ESO/MPE/S. Gillessen et al.

About the Image

Id:eso1622b
Type:Collage
Release date:23 June 2016, 10:00
Related releases:eso1622
Size:1384 x 1126 px

About the Object

Name:IRS 16C
Type:Milky Way : Galaxy : Component : Central Black Hole
Category:Quasars and Black Holes

Image Formats

Large JPEG
404.8 KB
Screensize JPEG
228.5 KB