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Infrared photometry of the black hole candidate Sagittarius A*An infrared source has been imaged within 0.2 +/- 0.3 arcseconds of the unique Galactic center radio source Sgr A* High angular resolution (averaged value of the Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) approximately 0.55 arcseconds) was achieved by rapid (approximately 50 Hz) real-time images motion compensation. The source's near-infrared magnitudes (K = 12.1 +/- 0.3, H = 13.7 +/- 0.3, and J = 16.6 +/- 0.4) are consistent with a hot object reddened by the local extinction A(sub v) approximately 27). At the 3 sigma level of confidence, a time series of 80 images limits the source variability to less than 50% on timescales from 3 to 30 minutes. The photometry is consistent with the emission from a simple accretion disk model for a approximately 1 x 10(exp 6) solar mass black hole. However, the fluxes are also consistent with a hot luminous (L approximately 10(exp 3.5) to 10(exp 4-6) solar luminosity) central cluster star positionally coincident with Sgr A*.
Document ID
19950044707
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Close, Laird M.
(Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ United States)
Mccarthy, Donald W. JR.
(Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ United States)
Melia, Fulvio
(Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1995
Publication Information
Publication: The Astrophysical Journal, Part 1
Volume: 439
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
95A76306
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-88-22465
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-92-03336
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-2245
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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