Sagittarius A

Abstract

The available high-resolution observations of the complex of radio sources in the region of the galactic centre are reviewed and analysed. As noted by Downes and Maxwell, the spectrum of the strong central source, Sagittarius A, is markedly non-thermal (index 0·7) at high frequencies; below 3000 MHz the spectrum may be flat, but flux values obtained at high angular resolution are badly needed.Various arguments indicate that the whole source complex is located near the nucleus of the Galaxy. From the short-wave observations collected by Downes and Maxwell dimensions, densities and masses are estimated for the thermal sources. The total mass of ionized hydrogen in these sources is about 106M⊙; the mechanism of ionization is uncertain.The non-thermal source Sgr A may be similar to the optical nuclei of external galaxies. Its synchrotron emission, as well as the outward motions and tilted features observed in the 21-cm line and continuum, are signs of activity in the galactic nucleus; but the time-scales of the various phenomena appear to disagree.