Centaurus A, a peculiar galaxy 12 million light-years from the Milky Way, has left astronomers baffled with its recent discovery of V-shaped X-ray emission. The phenomenon occurs when massive jets of plasma shooting from the galactic supermassive black hole collide with an unknown object in intergalactic space, dubbed C4.
Located near the galactic plane, Centaurus A features an array of orbiting dwarf galaxies, a distorted shape with prominent dust lanes, and a structure that may result from two galaxies colliding and merging. Its active supermassive black hole is actively accreting matter, creating jets of particles that blast into space, producing huge lobes of radio emission.
To better understand this phenomenon, NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory was deployed to study the high-energy light emitted by Centaurus A’s jets. The observations revealed a peculiar V-shaped feature, converging on a bright point-like source of emission, with each arm measuring 700 light-years in length.
Astronomers are unsure what C4 is, but it could be a massive star or a knot of turbulence. However, the V structure remains unexplained, as one would expect the outflows from the point source to align with the jet’s flow. The other arm appears at an oblique angle that defies explanation.
Further observations across multiple wavelengths may provide answers to this enigma. With ongoing scrutiny, it is likely that solutions will emerge in due time.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/nasa-captures-black-hole-jet-blasting-a-mysterious-object