Scientists have taken a significant step toward unveiling one of astronomy’s most compelling mysteries: how supermassive black holes create powerful jets that stretch across entire galaxies. New measurements of the galaxy NGC 1052 suggest its central black hole will be an ideal target for capturing detailed images of this extraordinary process.
Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics | Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
In the depths of space, 60 million light-years from Earth, lies a galaxy harboring secrets about one of the universe’s most dramatic phenomena. Using a network of interconnected radio telescopes, scientists have peered into the heart of NGC 1052, where a supermassive black hole launches twin jets of high-energy particles at nearly the speed of light.
Lead researcher Anne-Kathrin Baczko from Chalmers University of Technology notes the unique challenges of this observation: “The centre of this galaxy, NGC 1052, is a promising target for imaging with the Event Horizon Telescope, but it’s faint, complex and more challenging than all other sources we’ve attempted so far.”
A Window into Cosmic Power
The research team made their observations using five telescopes from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) network, including the highly sensitive ALMA array in Chile. Their measurements revealed two crucial findings: the black hole’s surroundings emit radio waves at frequencies ideal for EHT observation, and the jet-formation region is comparable in size to the previously imaged M87* black hole.
Perhaps most intriguingly, the team measured a magnetic field strength of 2.6 tesla near the black hole’s event horizon – 400 times stronger than Earth’s magnetic field. Team member Matthias Kadler from the University of Würzburg explains: “This is such a powerful magnetic field that we think it can probably stop material from falling into the black hole. That in turn can help to launch the galaxy’s two jets.”
Future Prospects
The success of these preliminary observations, achieved with just a portion of the EHT’s full capabilities, suggests even more dramatic discoveries ahead. Eduardo Ros from the Max Planck Institute emphasizes their goal: “We want to investigate not just the black hole itself, but also the origins of the jets which stream out from the east and west sides of the black hole as seen from Earth.”
Glossary
- Event Horizon: The boundary around a black hole beyond which nothing, not even light, can escape
- Jets: Streams of high-energy particles ejected from near a black hole at nearly light speed
- Radio Interferometry: A technique that combines signals from multiple telescopes to achieve extremely high-resolution observations
Test Your Knowledge
How far is NGC 1052 from Earth?
NGC 1052 is located 60 million light-years from Earth.
How many telescopes from the EHT network were used in this study?
Five telescopes from the EHT network were used for these observations.
What is the strength of the magnetic field near the black hole’s event horizon, and how does it compare to Earth’s?
The magnetic field strength is 2.6 tesla, approximately 400 times stronger than Earth’s magnetic field.
How does the powerful magnetic field potentially contribute to jet formation?
The magnetic field is strong enough to potentially stop material from falling into the black hole, which can help launch the galaxy’s two jets.
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