The composite imagery captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope showcases UGC 11397, a barred spiral galaxy that is currently experiencing the vigorous accretion of a supermassive black hole.
This Hubble image shows UGC 11397, a barred spiral galaxy some 250 million light-years away in the constellation of Lyra. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / M.J. Koss / A.J. Barth.
Known also by its designations IRAS 19019+3346, LEDA 62725, or TC 872, UGC 11397 is situated at a celestial distance of approximately 250 million light-years, within the confines of the Lyra constellation.
The initial documented mention of this particular spiral galaxy can be traced back to the Catalogue of Galaxies and of Clusters of Galaxies, a compilation undertaken by Swiss astronomer Fritz Zwicky and published in 1966.
Commenting on its appearance, the Hubble astronomers stated, “Initially, UGC 11397 presents itself as a rather typical spiral galaxy.”
“Its structure is characterized by two elegantly curved spiral arms, visibly illuminated by stellar populations and delineated by opaque, mottled formations of cosmic dust.”
“The element that distinguishes UGC 11397 from the common spiral type resides at its core, where a supermassive black hole, possessing a mass equivalent to 174 million times that of our Sun, is actively accumulating material,” they elaborated.
“As this black hole draws in surrounding gas, dust, and even complete stellar bodies, the engulfed matter undergoes intense heating, generating a spectacular display of cosmic radiation.”
“The material captured by the black hole radiates energy across the electromagnetic spectrum, from gamma rays to radio waves, and its luminosity can fluctuate unpredictably.”
“However, in certain galactic systems, including UGC 11397, dense nebulae of dust obscure a significant portion of this energetic phenomenon from observation in visible light wavelengths.”
“Nevertheless, the vigorously growing black hole at the heart of UGC 11397 was detectable through its potent X-ray emissions.”
These observations led to its categorization as a Type 2 Seyfert galaxy, a classification applied to active galaxies whose central nuclei are obscured from direct view in optical light by an annular torus of dust and gas.
“Through the capabilities of Hubble, our investigation will encompass hundreds of galaxies that, much like UGC 11397, host a supermassive black hole undergoing mass accretion,” the researchers announced.
“The data acquired by Hubble will facilitate the precise measurement of masses for nearby supermassive black holes, enhance our comprehension of black hole evolution in the early universe, and even enable the study of stellar formation within the extreme conditions prevailing at galactic centers.”
