The remarkably active nucleus of this galaxy makes the central region M106 particularly interesting to astronomers, also because several supernovae have been observ there – in 1981 and 2014.
At the heart of this galaxy, like most spiral galaxies, lies a supermassive black hole, but this one is particularly active. Unlike the black hole at the center of our Milky Way, which sporadically sucks in gas, the black hole in Messier 106 is constantly swallowing matter. As the gas circles toward the black hole, it heats up and emits powerful radiation.
Webb’s image of the center of galaxy M106 shows these processes in detail:
A bright blue-white glow shines from the heart of this spiral galaxy. The blue areas in this image reflect the distribution of phone number library stars. More distant galaxies can be seen through the glow. The galaxy’s arms are visible as broad, winding lanes of glowing gas and dust, color in r and orange. The orange areas represent warmer dust and the rder hues represent colder dust. Finally, two additional spiral arms are visible in green.
Messier 106 is a galaxy full of surprises
These extra arms are unusual: they are visible in radio and X-ray wavelengths, but do not shine brightly in visible light. Unlike normal asb directory arms, these are compos of hot gas rather than form stars. Astronomers believe that these extra arms are the result of the black hole’s activity, probably caus by outflows of material produc by the violent churning of gas around the black hole.
