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Credit & Copyright: X-ray:
H. Marshall (MIT), et al.,
CXC,
NASA
Radio: F. Zhou, F. Owen (NRAO), J. Biretta (STScI)
Optical: E. Perlman (UMBC), et al., STScI, NASA
Explanation:
An
energetic jet from the core of
giant elliptical galaxy M87 stretches outward for 5,000 light-years.
This monstrous jet
appears
in the panels above
to be a knotted and irregular structure, detected
across the spectrum, from
x-ray to optical to
radio wavelengths.
In all these bands,
the observed emission is likely created as high energy
electrons spiral along magnetic field lines, so called
synchrotron radiation.
But what powers this cosmic blowtorch?
Ultimately, the jet is thought to be produced
as matter near the center of M87
swirls toward a spinning, supermassive black hole.
Strong electromagnetic forces are generated and eject material
away from
the black hole along
the axis of rotation in a narrow jet.
Galaxy M87
is about 50 million light-years away and reigns as
the large central elliptical galaxy in the
Virgo
cluster.
Radio: F. Zhou, F. Owen (NRAO), J. Biretta (STScI)
Optical: E. Perlman (UMBC), et al., STScI, NASA
News: The answer to
Lewin's Challenge APOD can be found
here.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: M 87 - black hole - jet - radio - optical
Publications with words: M 87 - black hole - jet - radio - optical
See also:
- APOD: 2025 September 24 Á GW250114: Rotating Black Holes Collide
- APOD: 2025 September 3 Á Cir X1: Jets in the Africa Nebula
- APOD: 2025 May 9 Á IXPE Explores a Black Hole Jet
- APOD: 2025 May 6 Á The Doubly Warped World of Binary Black Holes
- APOD: 2025 May 4 Á Spin up of a Supermassive Black Hole
- APOD: 2025 April 9 Á HH 49: Interstellar Jet from Webb
- Messier 87