NOIRLab
Smallest Known Galaxy with a Supermassive Black Hole
Stellar Kinematic Maps of M60-UCD1 showing clear rotation and a dispersion peak. Panels a and b show the measured radial velocities (bulk motions towards & away from us) and velocity dispersions (random motions) of the stars in M60-UCD1 with typical errors of 6 km/s. Black contours show isophotes in the K band stellar continuum. Kinematics are determined in each individual pixel near the center, but at larger radii the data were binned to increase signal-tonoise and enable kinematic measurements. Panels b and c show the best fit dynamical model; a black hole is required to replicate the central dispersion peak.
