M87 is a supermassive black hole located in a galaxy 55 million light-years from Earth, and it is 6.5 billion times larger than the sun.

How was the source of the cosmic jet identified?

The source of the 3,000-light-year cosmic jet was identified using significantly enhanced coverage from the global Event Horizon Telescope network.

What are cosmic jets launched by black holes?

Cosmic jets are powerful streams of charged particles launched from the poles of active supermassive black holes, traveling at nearly the speed of light.

Home / Science / Black Hole Jet's Source Pinpointed

Black Hole Jet's Source Pinpointed

1 Feb

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Summary

Cosmic jet emanates from the first imaged black hole, M87.
Event Horizon Telescope data enhanced coverage for the discovery.
Jets launch from black hole poles at near light speed.

A groundbreaking study has identified the likely origin point of a colossal 3,000-light-year cosmic jet streaming from M87, the first black hole ever successfully imaged. This significant advancement was made possible by "significantly enhanced coverage" from the global Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) network. M87, a supermassive black hole located in a galaxy 55 million light-years away, is known for its immense size, being 6.5 billion times larger than our sun.

The EHT, an Earth-sized virtual telescope composed of eight radio observatories, collected crucial data in 2021. The findings, published in "Astronomy & Astrophysics," offer observational evidence supporting the theory that active supermassive black holes, like M87, launch powerful jets of charged particles from their poles at nearly the speed of light. This research represents an early but vital step in connecting theoretical models of jet launching with direct astronomical observations.

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