Hubble images spiral galaxy NGC 5643
The spiral galaxy NGC 5643 is located roughly 40 million light-years away in the constellation Lupus, the Wolf. NGC 5643 is a grand design spiral, which refers to the galaxy's symmetrical form with two large, winding spiral arms that are clearly visible. Bright-blue stars define the galaxy's spiral arms, along with lacy reddish-brown dust clouds and pink star-forming regions.
As fascinating as the galaxy appears at visible wavelengths, some of NGC 5643's most interesting features are invisible to the human eye.
Ultraviolet and X-ray images and spectra of NGC 5643 show that the galaxy hosts an active galactic nucleus: an especially bright galactic core powered by a feasting supermassive black hole.
When a supermassive black hole ensnares gas from its surroundings, the gas collects in a disk that heats up to hundreds of thousands of degrees. The superheated gas shines brightly across the electromagnetic spectrum, but especially at X-ray wavelengths.
NGC 5643's active galactic nucleus isn't the brightest source of X-rays in the galaxy, though. Researchers using ESA's XMM-Newton discovered an even brighter X-ray-emitting object, called NGC 5643 X-1, on the galaxy's outskirts.
What could be a more powerful source of X-rays than a supermassive black hole? Surprisingly, the answer appears to be a much smaller black hole!
While the exact identity of NGC 5643 X-1 is unknown, evidence points to a black hole that is about 30 times more massive than the sun. Locked in an orbital dance with a companion star, the black hole ensnares gas from its stellar companion, creating a superheated disk that outshines the NGC 5643's galactic core.
. The new image incorporates additional wavelengths of light, including the red color that is characteristic of gas heated by massive young stars.
Provided by NASA