VERITAS observations of M87 in 2011/2012
Abstract
The giant radio galaxy M87 is located at a distance of 16.7Mpc and harbors a super-massive black hole (6 billion solar masses) in its center. M87 is one of just three radio galaxies known to emit TeV γ-rays. The structure of its relativistic plasma jet, which is not pointing towards our line of sight, is spatially resolved in X-ray (Chandra), optical and radio (VLA/VLBA) observations. The mechanishm and location of the TeV emitting region is one of the least understood aspects of AGN. In spring 2008 and 2010, the three TeV observatories VERITAS, MAGIC and H.E.S.S. detected two major TeV flares in coordinated observations. Simultaneous high-resolution observations at other wavelengths - radio (2008) and X-rays (2008/2010) - gave evidence that one of the TeV flares was related to an event in the core region; however, no common/repeated patterns could be identified so far. VERITAS continued to monitor M87 in 2011/2012. The results of these observations are presented.
- Publication:
-
High Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy: 5th International Meeting on High Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy
- Pub Date:
- December 2012
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.4772328
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1210.7830
- Bibcode:
- 2012AIPC.1505..586B
- Keywords:
-
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena;
- Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 4 pages, 3 figures