Chandra Image of Sgr A* with Labels
This annotated Chandra image marks the location of the X-ray source associated with the supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), at the center of our Galaxy. Also marked on this image are newly discovered large lobes of multimillion-degree gas that extend for dozens of light years on either side of the black hole.
Scale: Image is 8.4 arcmin per side
(Credit: NASA/CXC/MIT/F.K. Baganoff et al.)

Chandra Close-up of Sgr A* & X-ray Jet
A close-up of Chandra image of the Galactic center shows the location of the supermassive black hole Sgr A* and an X-ray jet. This suspected jet is 1.5 light years in length and is due to high-energy particles ejected from the vicinity of the black hole. This image is color coded by intensity from 2.0-8.0 keV.
Scale: Image is 1.23 arcmin per side
(Credit: NASA/CXC/MIT/F.K. Baganoff et al.)

Chandra Close-up of Sgr A* & X-ray Jet with Labels
This annotated Chandra close-up of the Galactic center shows the location of the supermassive black hole Sgr A* and an X-ray jet. This suspected jet is 1.5 light years in length and is due to high-energy particles ejected from the vicinity of the black hole. This image is color coded by intensity from 2.0-8.0 keV.
Scale: Image is 1.23 arcmin per side
(Credit: NASA/CXC/MIT/F.K. Baganoff et al.)

Chandra Full-Field of Sgr A*
Chandra detected almost daily outbursts of X-rays from the gas around the black hole Sgr A* during observations in late May and early June 2002. Astronomers also discovered huge lobes of 20-million-degree Centigrade gas, which indicate that enormous explosions occurred near the black hole several times over the last ten thousand years. This full-field image of Sgr A* is color coded by intensity to show X-rays from 3.3-4.7 keV.
Scale: Image is 17.5 x 14.5 arcmin
(Credit: NASA/CXC/MIT/F.K. Baganoff et al.)

Chandra Labeled Image of Sagittarius A Region
There are many complex structures located at the center of our Galaxy, many of which Chandra has observed through X-rays. The general area around the Milky Way's center is known as "Sagittarius A". Within that, there are two components known as "Sgr A East" and "Sgr A West". Astronomers think that Sgr A East (large, dotted ellipse) may be the remnant of a supernova that exploded thousands of years ago. Sgr A West (smaller, solid ellipse) is a spiral-shaped group of gas streamers that might be falling into "Sgr A*", the name of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way.
Scale: Image is 8.4 arcmin per side
(Credit: NASA/CXC/MIT/F.K.Baganoff et al.)
Related Chandra Image: Sagittarius A East

Chandra X-ray Image with Scale Bar
Scale bar = 1.6 arcmin
(Credit: NASA/CXC/MIT/F.K.Baganoff et al.)