Detection of the “Active” Nucleus of M32

M32 hosts a 2.5x10^6 solar mass central black hole, but signs of nuclearactivity in this galaxy have long eluded detection. We report the firstconclusive detection of the nucleus of M32 in X-rays, based on high-resolution,sensitive observations made with Chandra. The 2-10 keV luminosity is merely9.4x10^35 erg/s, 3x10^-9 of the Eddington luminosity of the black hole. Weakdiffuse emission, consistent with thermal gas at a temperature of 0.37 keV, isseen in an annular region ~100 pc from the center. We also present a deep,moderately high-resolution (0.9"), radio continuum observation obtained withthe Very Large Array, which places a tight upper bound on the nuclear radiopower at 8.4 GHz. We combine these new measurements with upper limits at otherwavelengths to discuss implications for the nature of accretion onto thecentral black hole.Comment: To appear in ApJ. 7 page