Scientists Trace Origin of Massive Cosmic Jet from First Imaged Black Hole
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New observations from the Event Horizon Telescope are providing unprecedented insight into the powerful forces at play around supermassive black holes.
With dramatically increased observational power, scientists have pinpointed the likely source of a colossal, 3,000-light-year-long cosmic jet erupting from M87, the first black hole ever directly imaged. The groundbreaking research, published Wednesday in Astronomy & Astrophysics, offers crucial clues about how these enigmatic objects launch some of the universe’s most energetic phenomena.
unveiling the engine of a Cosmic Jet
M87, a supermassive black hole residing in the Messier 87 galaxy approximately 55 million light-years from Earth, is 6.5 billion times the mass of our sun. Initial images of M87,captured by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) following data collection in 2017 and released to the public in 2019,revealed a bright ring of light surrounding a dark central region – the black hole’s shadow. Now, enhanced data from the EHT is revealing the origins of the powerful jet extending far beyond the black hole itself.
“Determining where the jet may originate and how it connects to the black hole’s shadow adds an important piece to the puzzle and helps to better understand how the central engine works,” explained a team leader at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, in a statement. This study represents a critical first step in bridging theoretical models of jet formation with direct observational evidence.
How Black holes Power Cosmic Jets
Black holes are not simply cosmic vacuum cleaners; they are incredibly active entities. According to NASA’s dr. paddy Boyd, the region where these jets are launched is characterized by an exceptionally strong magnetic field. the new observations provide compelling evidence that the jets observed for some time are indeed ejected from the supermassive black hole at the center of M87.
The process, as described by sources including scientific American and Space.com, involves M87 “inhaling” surrounding gases and dust, then expelling powerful streams of charged particles from its poles, forming these remarkable jets.
The event Horizon Telescope: A Virtual Earth-Sized Observatory
The EHT is not a single telescope, but a global network of eight radio observatories working in concert. By linking these observatories, scientists effectively create a telescope the size of Earth, enabling them to achieve unprecedented resolution and observe phenomena previously beyond our reach. The data used in this latest study was collected in 2021, but the research team emphasizes that further observations are needed to solidify these findings.
“While this result is robust under the assumptions and tests performed, final confirmation and more precise constraints will require future EHT obser
Why: Scientists sought to understand the origin of the powerful cosmic jet emanating from the black hole M87.
Who: The research was conducted by an international team of scientists using the Event Horizon telescope (EHT), with contributions from experts like Dr. Paddy Boyd at NASA and team leaders at the Max Planck Institute for Radio astronomy.
What: The study pinpointed the likely source of a 3,000-light-year-long cosmic jet erupting from M87, revealing it originates from the region around the black hole’s magnetic field.
How: The EHT,a network of eight radio observatories,used enhanced data collected in 2021 to observe the jet
