Near-infrared images of the nuclear region of NGC 5128

High-resolution near-infrared images of NGC 5128 (Centaurus A) are presented, which probe the optically obscured nuclear region. The images show a central source at K (2.23 microns) and 3.26 microns. This central object is not prominent in the shorter wavelength images at J and H (1.23 and 1.65 micron, respectively), probably due to high extinction. The color images (H - K and J - H) provide evidence for a steep gradient in extinction across the array field. The images indicate three components: a red, variable, compact nucleus; the diffuse elliptical galaxy starlight; and a blue extension to the NE. The nucleus has decreased in flux density by a factor of 2.5 over less than about 5 yr at 3.26 microns. However, current spectral constraints on the nuclear source at near-infrared wavelengths cannot definitively determine the relative contributions from the known ratio synchrotron source (AGN) and from various possible dust-enshrouded thermal sources. The blue spot, approximately 7.6 +/- 0.1 arcsec NE of the nucleus appears to be a hole in the extinction, possibly enhanced by scattered light from the active galactic nucleus.