NGC 4258: A Compact Central Infrared Source Revealed

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

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Scientific paper

We present high resolution ( ~ 0.6arcsec ) near infrared Keck observations which probe the optically obscured nucleus of NGC 4258 (M 106) which is believed to contain a massive black hole. The images show a compact central source at H (1.65micron ) and K (2.23micron ) after the J (1.23micron ) component, which was taken to be dominated by the bulge stars, was subtracted out. The compact source has a measured K flux of ~ 3 mJy and might be marginally resolved. When corrected for AV ~ 20 mag of extinction the IR luminosity (1.5micron - 3.0micron ) is ~ 3x10(7) L_&sun;. The corresponding X-ray (2-10 keV) luminosity is ~ 10(7) L_&sun; while the central source has been estimated at ~ 10(2) L_&sun; in the radio. We argue that our near infrared source is a spherical dust shell around the center which is reprocessing the radiation emitted by the black hole inferred to be at the center.

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