Stunning New Image from JWST Reveals the Supermassive Black Hole Jet of the M87 Galaxy

For over a hundred years, astronomers have stared in awe at the bright jet of matter shooting from the giant galaxy M87. Recently, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has given us a clearer infrared view of this fascinating cosmic event, pulling back the curtain to reveal new details about the jet powered by the black hole at M87’s center. It even captured a faint counter-jet moving in the opposite direction.

In the latest image from JWST, the jet looks like a glowing pink ribbon against a soft violet background. This stream of charged particles stretches thousands of light-years from the black hole, known as M87*. Bright knots along the jet show areas where particles are accelerated to nearly the speed of light.

For the first time, Webb has detected the dimmer counter-jet about 6,000 light-years out. This feature is hard to see because it’s moving away from us, making its light appear weaker. M87 is about 55 million light-years from Earth and has been studied extensively, first cataloged by Charles Messier in the 18th century. The black hole at its heart gained fame in 2019 when it became the first black hole ever photographed.

A team led by Jan Röder from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia used Webb’s Near Infrared Camera to photograph the jet in four infrared bands. They worked carefully to eliminate the brightness of stars and background galaxies to create the clearest picture of M87’s jet yet, reported in a recent study.

In closer views, the jet takes on a twisted shape. An interesting feature called “knot L” is visible, along with another bright spot known as HST-1, which is famous for its rapid movement. Webb’s sharp images show that HST-1 splits into two parts, indicating complex particle dynamics near the black hole.

As we go further out, the counter-jet forms a faint C-shape, consistent with earlier radio observations. The study notes that the jet shines thanks to synchrotron radiation—light created by charged particles swirling through magnetic fields. By examining small color differences across infrared bands, scientists better understand how particles accelerate and cool along the jet.

Jets like M87’s are fascinating laboratories for studying extreme physics. They are powered by supermassive black holes and can accelerate particles to energies far greater than anything achieved on Earth. Learning about these jets can help astronomers understand how black holes influence their galaxies, affecting star formation and spreading matter into the vastness of space.

Understanding M87’s jet may also have implications for our understanding of similar phenomena in other galaxies. For instance, data from the European Southern Observatory indicates that jets are common around supermassive black holes, affecting their surroundings in both visible and invisible ways. By comparing M87’s jet to those in other galaxies, researchers can piece together a fuller picture of cosmic evolution.

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