2003ApJ...598L..91K

In this Letter, we present results from our exploratory mid-IR study of Centaurus A circumnuclear environment using high angular resolution imaging at the Magellan 6.5 m telescope with the MIRAC/BLINC camera. We detected emission from a compact region surrounding the nuclear source and obtained photometry at 8.8 µm and in the N band. Our analysis suggests that the nuclear region is resolved with a size of ~3 pc. The mid-IR emission from this region is likely associated with cool dust with an estimated temperature of ∼160 K, surrounding the central ``hidden'' active galactic nucleus (AGN). We discuss the characteristics of this emission in relation to other mid-IR observations and the implications on models of dust formation in AGNs.