The Binary Nucleus in VCC 128: A Candidate Supermassive Black Hole in a Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy

Details The Binary Nucleus in VCC 128: A Candidate Supermassive Black Hole in a Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy The Binary Nucleus in VCC 128: A Candidate Supermassive Black Hole in a Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy

2006-09-28

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0609792v1

Astrophys.J.651:L97-L100,2006

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Accepted to ApJL, 4 pages, 3 figures. Uses emulateapj

Scientific paper

10.1086/509783

{\it Hubble Space Telescope} (\hst) Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 ({\it WFPC2}) images of the Virgo Cluster dwarf elliptical galaxy VCC 128 reveal an apparently double nucleus. The two components, which are separated by $\sim 32$ pc in projection, have the same magnitude and color. We present a spectrum of this double nucleus and show that it is inconsistent with one or both components being emission-line background objects or foreground stars. The most likely interpretation is that, as suggested by \citet{lauer_etal_96} for the double nucleus in NGC 4486B, we are seeing a nuclear disk surrounding a supermassive black hole. This is only the second time an early-type dwarf (dE/dSph) galaxy has been suggested to host a SMBH.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The Binary Nucleus in VCC 128: A Candidate Supermassive Black Hole in a Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The Binary Nucleus in VCC 128: A Candidate Supermassive Black Hole in a Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Binary Nucleus in VCC 128: A Candidate Supermassive Black Hole in a Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-183629