RX J1242−11

A Chandra X-ray Observatory image of RX J1242-11.

Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation| Virgo
Right ascension| 12h 42m 36.9s
Declination| −11° 19′ 35″
Distance| 650 Mly (200 Mpc)[1]
Characteristics
Type| elliptical
Notable features| Pair of Galaxies = [KG99] A + [KG99] B.
Other designations
RX J1242.6-1119A

RX J1242.6−1119A (often abbreviated RX J1242−11) is an elliptical galaxy located approximately 200 megaparsecs (about 650 million light-years) from Earth. According to current interpretations of X-ray observations made by the Chandra X-ray Observatory and XMM-Newton, the centre of this galaxy is a 100 million solar mass supermassive black hole which was observed to have tidally disrupted a star (in 1992 or shortly before).[1] The discovery is widely considered to be the first strong evidence of a supermassive black hole ripping apart a star and consuming a portion of it.[2]

## Location in the sky[edit]

The location of RX J1242.6-1119A, as seen from Earth, is less than one degree to the northeast of Messier 104, the Sombrero Galaxy.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Komossa, S.; Halpern, J.; Schartel, N.; Hasinger, G.; Santos-Lleo, M.; Predehl, P. (May 2004), "A Huge Drop in the X-Ray Luminosity of the Nonactive Galaxy RX J1242.6-1119A, and the First Postflare Spectrum: Testing the Tidal Disruption Scenario", The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 603: L17–L20, arXiv:astro-ph/0402468, Bibcode:2004ApJ...603L..17K, doi:10.1086/382046
2. ^ NASA: "Giant Black Hole Rips Apart Unlucky Star"

## External links[edit]

* Komossa's Object
* Chandra X-Ray Observatory Photo Album – February 18, 2004
* 41QuarkBuchiNeri.pdf

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