¡@

¡@

¡@

¡@

¡@

¡@

¡@

¡@

¡@

Chapter 3.7 Supermassive Black Holes

¡@

M87: A monster galaxy

At the centers of most galaxies lie dense cores of gas and stars, often shrouded in dust.

¡@¡@

M87: A jet is revealed

This giant elliptical galaxy named M87 lies 50 million light years away in the constellation Virgo.

¡@

M87: Image Processed Jet

Upon closer examination, a luminous jet some 6500 light years long shoots out from the galaxy's core. Computer-enhancement more clearly reveals the jet, shown here in blue.

What awesome "central engine" powers the jet? Many astrophysicists believe that a super massive black hole lurks at center of M87. Owing to its immense gravitational field, the gigantic black hole pulls in any matter within its vicinity. But before falling inwards, stars, gas and dust orbit the black hole and form an accretion disk.

Recent observations of M87 by the Hubble Space Telescope show that near the galaxy's center, its accretion disk spins at 1.2 million miles per hour! Only the gravity of a gigantic object with a mass of two, maybe three million suns could prevent the disk from flying apart. As the swirling material spirals inward, it generates gravitational energy that drives the jets. Some of this energy might also be released as gravitational waves.

Some astronomers speculate that M87's accretion disk was formed when a small galaxy approached M87 too closely and was pulled into its central region. Look again at M87. Dwarf galaxies can be seen near this huge galaxy.

¡@