Figure 24-15: The Radio Galaxy Centaurus A (a) This elliptical galaxy, called NGC 5128, lies about 4 Mpc (13 million ly) from Earth at the location of the radio source Centaurus A. The dust lane is evidence of a collision with another galaxy. (b) At radio wavelengths we see synchrotron radiation from two radio lobes centered on the galaxy’s nucleus. (c) A luminous jet extends from the nucleus directly toward one of the lobes.

(a: Digitized Sky Survey/UK Schmidt Image/STScI; b: J. Condon et al./VLA/NRAO; c: R. Kraft et al./SAO/NASA)