NGC 3621-ESO-VLT-Potw1148a
NGC 3621 is also interesting as it is believed to have an active supermassive black hole at its centre that is engulfing matter and producing radiation. This is somewhat unusual because most of these so-called active galactic nuclei exist in galaxies with prominent bulges. In this particular case, the supermassive black hole is thought to have a relatively small mass, of around 20 000 times that of the Sun.
Another interesting feature is that there are also thought to be two smaller black holes, with masses of a few thousand times that of the Sun, near the nucleus of the galaxy. Therefore, NGC 3621 is an extremely interesting object which, despite not having a central bulge, has a system of three black holes in its central region.
This galaxy is located in the constellation of Hydra (The Sea Snake) and can be seen with a moderate-sized telescope. This image, taken using B, V, and I filters with the FORS1 instrument on the powerful VLT, shows striking detail in this odd object and also reveals a multitude of background galaxies. A number of bright foreground stars that belong to our own Milky Way are also visible.Relevante Bilder
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NGC 3621NGC 3621 ist eine Spiralgalaxie vom Hubble-Typ SBcd im Sternbild Wasserschlange am Südsternhimmel. Die Galaxie ist schätzungsweise 24 Millionen Lichtjahre von der Milchstraße entfernt und hat einen Scheibendurchmesser von etwa 86.000 Lj. .. weiterlesen