This deepest-ever infrared view of a region near the galactic center shows thousands of stars crowded into an area only 6 light-years across. Locations of bright stars don't match locations of X-ray sources, indicating that the galactic center may contain many faint Sun-like stars with X-ray-emitting white dwarf companions. Credit: Silas Laycock (CfA)
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Using the 6.5-meter-diameter Magellan Telescope in Chile, CfA astronomers have taken the deepest ever infrared view of the galactic center. This region is completely obscured by dust at visible wavelengths, but infrared light can penetrate the dusty curtain to show us what lays hidden beyond. This image, measuring 24 light-years on a side, was taken in the K infrared band and shows light at a wavelength of 2.2 microns. Credit: Silas Laycock (CfA)
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Within the central 6 light-years of the galactic center, this infrared image shows thousands of stars. Superimposed on the image are hundreds of yellow circles showing locations of X-ray sources detected by the Chandra X-ray Observatory. Many X-ray sources have no visible counterpart, indicating that they likely belong to low-mass binary systems such as cataclysmic variables (a white dwarf pulling gas from a Sun-like companion star). Credit: Silas Laycock (CfA)
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Thanks to the unique resolving power of the Chandra X-ray Observatory, astronomers have been able to spot thousands of point-like X-ray sources in the galactic center. X-rays are generated within accretion disks as hot matter is sucked onto white dwarfs or neutron stars, or into black holes. Complementary infrared observations can help clarify the nature of these sources. Credit: NASA/CXC/UCLA/M. Muno et al.
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