X-ray imaging of the Seyfert 2 galaxy Circinus with Chandra

We present results from the zero-order imaging of a Chandra High-Energy Tra nsmission Grating Spectrometer observation of the nearby Seyfert 2 galaxy C ircinus. Twelve X-ray sources were detected in the Advanced CCD Imaging Spe ctrometer-S (ACIS-S) image of the galaxy, embedded in diffuse X-ray emissio n. The latter shows a prominent (similar to 18 ") soft "plume" in the north west direction, coincident with the [O III] ionization cone. The radial pro files of the brightest X-ray source at various energies are consistent with an unresolved (FWHM similar to 0.8 ") component, which we identify as the active nucleus, plus two extended components with FWHM similar to 2.3 " and 18 ", respectively. In a radius of 3 ", the nucleus contributes roughly th e same flux as the extended components at the softest energies (less than o r similar to 2 keV). However, at harder energies (>2 keV), the contribution of the nucleus is dominant. The zero-order ACIS spectrum of the nucleus ex hibits emission lines at both soft and hard X-rays, including a prominent F e K alpha line at 6.4 keV, showing that most of the X-ray lines previously detected with ASCA originate in a compact region (less than or similar to 1 5 pc). Based on its X-ray spectrum, we argue that the 2.3 " extended compon ent is scattered nuclear radiation from nearby ionized gas. The large-scale extended component includes the emission from the northwest plume and poss ibly from the outer starburst ring.