Forbidden into Ne II observations of the galactic center Evidence for a massive black hole

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/163250· OSTI ID:5936469

Serabyn, E; Lacy, J H

The velocity field within two pc of the galactic center has been investigated by observing the forbidden Ne II 12.8 micron fine-structure emission from Sgr West. The velocity variation indicates that at least two of the features are large-scale flows of ionized gas. The flow along the southern arm continues all the way north to IRS 8, encircling the center of the galaxy in an arc of about 180 deg. Both the velocity and position along the northern arm are well fitted by a noncircular orbit with mass greater than 3.5 million solar masses within the orbital of about 0.5 pc. These data are taken as evidence for a central black hole of mass three to four million solar masses. A best estimate for the position of the central mass is coincident with IRS 16 NE. 42 references.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Berkeley; Hawaii Univ., Hilo
• OSTI ID: 5936469
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Vol. 293
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
GALAXY NUCLEI
BLACK HOLES
MILKY WAY
EMISSION SPECTRA
FINE STRUCTURE
FORBIDDEN TRANSITIONS
MASS DISTRIBUTION
NEON
STAR CLUSTERS
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
FLUIDS
GALAXIES
GASES
NONMETALS
RARE GASES
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SPECTRA
640105* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Galaxies