The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed something truly captivating: a glimpse into the powerful jets emanating from the first black hole ever directly imaged. This groundbreaking discovery, published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, showcases the telescope's ability to capture unprecedented details of the M87* black hole's jets and their counter-jet, offering a unique perspective on these cosmic phenomena.
The M87* black hole, with a mass equivalent to 6.5 billion suns, was first captured in 2019 by the Event Horizon Telescope. Since then, researchers have been fascinated by its behavior. The black hole's rapid spin, approaching 80% of the cosmic speed limit, and the dramatic changes in its magnetic fields within a few years, have made it a subject of intense study.
The new James Webb Space Telescope images, captured in June 2024 using the Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam), provide a detailed view of the jet's structure at the infrared scale. This scale is crucial for understanding the connection between radio and visible light images. By isolating the jet and removing background emissions, the team identified its individual features at four wavelengths of infrared light.
One of the most significant findings is the confirmation of the HST-1 region, a bright section of the jet near the galaxy's core. Previous research had modeled HST-1 using X-ray data, revealing two light-emitting regions. The new images provide the first direct observations supporting this structure, offering a clearer understanding of the jet's composition.
Additionally, the longer-wavelength images reveal a faint C-shaped counter-jet spurting from the core in the opposite direction of the main jet. While counter-jets are visible in radio wave photos, the infrared images provide a level of clarity that is truly exciting for researchers.
As the team continues to capture images at different wavelengths, scientists will gain a deeper understanding of how the jet interacts with its cosmic surroundings and the composition of the jet and its opposite. Each new observation brings them closer to a comprehensive understanding of these fascinating phenomena.
