(2009) The space density of Compton-thick
active galactic nucleus and the X-ray background.
The resolution at which they were able to observe this highly luminescent
active galactic nucleus (AGN) has given them direct confirmation of how mass accretes onto black holes in centres of galaxies.
NGC 5548 is a Seyfert galaxy, one of a class that harbors what astronomers call an "
active galactic nucleus." Such a galaxy contains an extremely compact object--possibly a massive black hole--that feeds on the rest of the galaxy.
"Theoretical models show that a merger is a great way to trigger an
active galactic nucleus, because it funnels a lot of gas to the center of the galaxy.
According to Begelman's theoretical analysis, each of these disk configurations can develop out of different initial conditions, and it may be the disk configuration that determines what kind of
active galactic nucleus we see in a given instance.
The nearest
active galactic nucleus is the one 12 million light-years away in the peculiar giant galaxy NGC 5128, also known as Centaurus A from the early days of radio astronomy.
Washington, July 14 (ANI): It has long been a mystery that where the material comes from to activate a sleeping supermassive black hole and trigger violent outbursts at a galaxy's centre, so that it then becomes an
active galactic nucleus.
At a distance of just over 11 million light-years, Centaurus A contains the closest
active galactic nucleus to Earth.
Such jets are the hallmark of an
active galactic nucleus, or mini-quasar.