Scientists may have identified where the colossal jet blasting out of the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy Messier 87 begins, offering new clues to one of the universe’s most extreme phenomena.
The black hole, known as M87*, made history in 2019 as the first black hole ever directly imaged. It is also famous for producing a spectacular jet of charged particles that stretches about 3,000 light-years into space—an event NASA has described as “one of nature’s most amazing phenomena.”
‘First hints’
Despite decades of study, astronomers have struggled to determine exactly where this jet originates. In a study published on 28 January in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, researchers now report what they describe as the “first hints” of the jet’s launch point.
Using observations from the Event Horizon Telescope, the same global network that captured M87’s historic image, the team examined the glowing ring of superheated gas surrounding the black hole. From this data, they identified what they believe is the most likely position of the jet’s base, closely linked to the black hole’s shadow.
Chaotic, voracious black hole
M87 is known as a chaotic and voracious system. As gas and dust spiral inward, it funneled some of the material outward at near-light speed, forming powerful jets that can influence entire galaxies. Pinpointing where these jets form is key to understanding how supermassive black holes shape their cosmic environments.
“This study represents an early step toward connecting theoretical ideas about jet launching with direct observations,” said lead author Saurabh, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany.
“Identifying where the jet may originate and how it connects to the black hole’s shadow adds a key piece to the puzzle and points toward a better understanding of how the central engine operates,” he added.
Researchers say the findings could guide future observations of M87 and help explain how supermassive black holes across the universe produced similar jets.
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