Astronomers Discover A Secret The Milky Way's Black Hole Hid For 50 Years
The half-century-long hunt for a missing piece of the Milky Way’s heart has finally ended with scientists finally discovering active wind caused by the black hole's jets.
According to theoretical physics, as a supermassive black hole feeds on surrounding material, the intense friction and energy should generate powerful outflows of winds or jets. Yet, despite more than 50 years of searching, Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), the black hole at the center of our galaxy, appeared entirely quiet, showing no signs of an active current wind.
Now, a new study published in the Astrophysical Journal Lettershas resolved this long-standing mystery. Astrophysicists Mark Gorski and Elena Murchikova from Northwestern University have captured the first definitive evidence of a hot plasma wind blowing directly from Sgr A*. The reason it remained hidden for so long is that astronomers had to look through the plane of the Milky Way. Murchikova adds, "That means...
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