A fascinating image of galaxy NGC 4151 was created using X-ray, optical, and radio light data. This active galaxy is home to a supermassive black hole that is slowly consuming material from the surrounding accretion disk. The resulting X-ray spectrum captured by JAXA/NASA/XRISM Resolve provides valuable insights into the inner workings of this galaxy and its black hole.
The spectrum reveals the presence of iron in the peak around 6.5 keV and dips around 7 keV, which are thousands of times more energetic than what our eyes can see. By studying the energy signatures of different elements like iron, researchers can better understand the processes happening near the black hole and in the surrounding accretion disk.
This data helps astronomers piece together the complex mechanisms at play in active galactic nuclei like NGC 4151. The combination of X-ray, optical, and radio light data provides a comprehensive picture of this galaxy and its black hole, offering new insights into one of nature’s most fascinating phenomena.
