The Galactic Centre: The Galactic Centre: a hidden treasure a hidden treasure How can we study the Galactic centre? How can we study the Galactic centre? What is do we find there? What is do we find there? What does it tell us about our Galaxy, and What does it tell us about our Galaxy, and galaxies in general? galaxies in general?
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The Galactic Centre: a hidden treasure How can we study the Galactic centre? How can we study the Galactic centre? What is do we find there? What is do.
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The Galactic Centre:The Galactic Centre:a hidden treasurea hidden treasure
How can we study the Galactic centre?How can we study the Galactic centre? What is do we find there?What is do we find there? What does it tell us about our Galaxy, and galaxies in What does it tell us about our Galaxy, and galaxies in
general?general?
Galactic BulgesGalactic Bulges
Classic view of spiral Classic view of spiral galaxiesgalaxies young stars in spiral young stars in spiral
armsarms old stars in halo and old stars in halo and
The Galactic Centre: infra-redThe Galactic Centre: infra-red
MPG/ESO
near infrared (2 microns) shows stars
Mysteries of the Galactic CentreMysteries of the Galactic Centre
A region of intense star A region of intense star formation surrounding a formation surrounding a point source of radio and point source of radio and X-ray emissionX-ray emission Where does the gas come Where does the gas come
from?from? What is the central point What is the central point
source?source?
Bringing in the GasBringing in the Gas
Evidence from star Evidence from star counts and extinction counts and extinction studies shows Milky studies shows Milky Way is a barred Way is a barred spiral with a ring spiral with a ring structure, like M95structure, like M95
This allows gas from This allows gas from the disc to be drawn the disc to be drawn in towards the centrein towards the centre
Image by Jean-Charles Cuillandre and Giovanni Anselme, CFHT
Sgr A*Sgr A*
Stars in infra-red images Stars in infra-red images are seen to move are seen to move around Sgr A*around Sgr A* plot orbitsplot orbits determine mass of Sgr A*determine mass of Sgr A* result: approximately result: approximately
4 million solar masses! solar masses!
The Milky Way’s dark heartThe Milky Way’s dark heart
Is Sgr A* a supermassive Is Sgr A* a supermassive black hole?black hole?
YES!YES! How do we know?How do we know? Basically, it’s too small to Basically, it’s too small to
be anything elsebe anything else orbit of star S2orbit of star S2 rapid flares in X-ray and rapid flares in X-ray and
near infra-rednear infra-red
The black hole mysteryThe black hole mystery
The Milky Way is not alone!The Milky Way is not alone! most large galaxies have central most large galaxies have central
supermassive black holessupermassive black holes the black hole mass is closely the black hole mass is closely
correlated with the mass of the correlated with the mass of the galaxy’s bulgegalaxy’s bulge
we don’t know why (yet)we don’t know why (yet) note that we believe these central note that we believe these central
black holes are the black holes are the power sources of power sources of active galactic nucleiactive galactic nuclei
ConclusionsConclusions
The centre of the Milky Way galaxy is an The centre of the Milky Way galaxy is an exciting place (if not an ideal holiday spot!)exciting place (if not an ideal holiday spot!) it is a site of active star formation with numerous it is a site of active star formation with numerous
young, massive stars and recent supernovaeyoung, massive stars and recent supernovae at its heart is a 3-million-solar-mass black holeat its heart is a 3-million-solar-mass black hole further studies may give new insights on galaxy further studies may give new insights on galaxy