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Hubble witnesses spectacular flaring in extragalactic jet from M87's black hole

Hubble astronomers have watched a knot in the jet of gas and radiation from M87's black hole that appears to brighten steadily for several years, then fade, only to brighten again. While researchers can't be sure what's causing this phenomenon, some speculate the jet is hitting interstellar material. Another hypothesis is that the jet's magnetic field lines are being squeezed together and unleashing a large amount of energy (c) [video]: NASA, ESA, Z. Levay, G. Bacon, and M. Estacion (STScI); [photo]: NASA, ESA, J. Madrid (McMaster University)

Tags: astronomer, black hole, flare, galaxy, gas, Hubble, jet, M87, outburst, telescope

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Hubble witnesses spectacular flaring in extragalactic jet from M87's black hole
— 15 April 2009 03:27 GMT | Astronomy

A flare-up in a jet of matter blasting from a monster black hole is giving astronomers an incredible light show. The outburst is coming from a blob of matter, called HST-1, embedded in the jet, a powerful narrow beam of hot gas produced by a supermassive black hole residing in the core of the giant elliptical galaxy M87. HST-1 is so bright that it is outshining even M87's brilliant core, whose monster black hole is one of the most massive yet discovered…