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News Release 05-215
Clarity at the Core
New techique provides first clear picture of the center of the Milky Way
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Thanks to the Keck II telescope's Laser Guide Star system, astronomers were able to create this wide-angle view of the galaxy's center in infrared light using just 20 minutes of telescope time. The image measures 80 x 80 arc-seconds. An ultramassive black hole lies at the galaxy's exact center.
Credit: W.M. Keck Observatory/UCLA Galactic Center Group
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The white cross marks the location of the supermassive black hole located at the center of our Milky Way galaxy, as seen in infrared using the Keck Laser Guide Star system (left panel) and the Keck Natural Guide Star system (right).
Credit: W.M. Keck Observatory/UCLA Galactic Center Group
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