RX J1242-11

RX J1242-11
A Chandra X-ray Observatory image of RX J1242-11.
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation Virgo
Right ascension 12h 42m 36.9s
Declination -11° 19´ 35´´
Distance 650 Mly (200 Mpc)[1]
Characteristics
Type spiral
Notable features Pair of Galaxies = [KG99] A + [KG99] B.
Other designations
RX J1242.6-1119

RX J1242-11 is an elliptical galaxy located approximately 200 megaparsecs (about 650 million light-years) from Earth. According to current interpretations of X-ray observations made by the Chandra X-ray Observatory and XMM-Newton, the centre of this galaxy is a 100 million solar mass supermassive black hole which was observed to have tidally disrupted a star.[1] The discovery is widely considered to be the first strong evidence of a supermassive black hole ripping apart a star and consuming a portion of it.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Komossa, S.; Halpern, J.; Schartel, N.; Hasinger, G.; Santos-Lleo, M.; Predehl, P. (May 2004), "A Huge Drop in the X-Ray Luminosity of the Nonactive Galaxy RX J1242.6-1119A, and the First Postflare Spectrum: Testing the Tidal Disruption Scenario", The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 603: L17–L20, Bibcode:2004ApJ...603L..17K, arXiv:astro-ph/0402468 Freely accessible, doi:10.1086/382046
  2. ↑ NASA: "Giant Black Hole Rips Apart Unlucky Star"


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