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 universeโs 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 spaceโan event NASA has described as โone of natureโs most amazing phenomena.โ
‘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 โfirst hintsโ of the jetโs launch point.
Using observations from the Event Horizon Telescope, the same global network that captured M87โs 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 jetโs base, closely linked to the black holeโs 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.
โThis study represents an early step toward connecting theoretical ideas about jet launching with direct observations,โ said lead author Saurabh, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany.
โIdentifying where the jet may originate and how it connects to the black holeโs shadow adds a key piece to the puzzle and points toward a better understanding of how the central engine operates,โ 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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