Get ready to have your mind blown! The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, including astronomers from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences in the Chinese mainland, has released stunning new images of the supermassive black hole at the heart of galaxy M87. 🚀🔭
First snapped in 2017 and unveiled in 2019, M87's black hole became the first-ever "photo" of a black hole. Now, with data from 2017, 2018, and 2021 all combined, scientists offer a fresh look at how this cosmic giant's magnetic fields have been doing a wild dance over the years. 💃🌌
In 2017, the magnetic fields spiraled in one direction, like the opening beat of a dance track. By 2018, they'd calmed down. But in 2021, they reversed course and started swirling the other way! These flips hint at a turbulent, ever-changing environment where magnetic forces help feed the black hole and power its colossal energy jets. 💫
Speaking of jets, the team also spotted extended jet emission close to the black hole's base, linking directly to M87's iconic ring. These jets are cosmic engines that shape galaxy growth, sprinkle energy across space, and regulate how stars are born. M87's powerful jet is a real-life laboratory for understanding these epic phenomena. 🌠
This breakthrough, detailed in Astronomy & Astrophysics, shines new light on how black holes work and reminds us that space is still full of surprises. Keep looking up! 😉
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
