NGC 4151, Seyfert Galaxy, Optical
HST optical image shows the central region of the spiral galaxy NGC 4151. The linear structures show clear evidence for an earlier outburst from a supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy. NGC 4151 is an intermediate spiral Seyfert galaxy located 43 million light years from Earth in the constellation Canes Venatici. The galaxy was first mentioned by William Herschel on March 17, 1787. It was one of the two Seyfert galaxies described in the paper which defined the term. It is one of the nearest galaxies to Earth to contain an actively growing supermassive black hole. The structure has been dubbed "The Eye of Sauron" by astronomers due to its resemblance to the character in "The Lord of the Rings" movies. Release date March 10, 2011.
Size: 3600px × 3600px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 2011, 21st, 4151, astronomical, astronomy, body, celestial, century, deep, eye, galaxies, galaxy, heavenly, hst, hubble, image, ngc, object, optical, sauron, science, seyfert, sky, space, spiral, telescope
