The James Webb space telescope has made a fascinating discovery in the center of the galaxy, revealing a continuous and high-speed light show around the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way. This black hole, known as Sagittarius A*, seems to be constantly active, emitting flares that can be compared to fireworks. The observations made with the James Webb space telescope have shown that the black hole’s accretion disk, which is formed by the gases and materials that orbit around it, is constantly emitting these flares.
The black hole of the Milky Way unleashes mysterious explosions
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, a team of astrophysicists led by Northwestern University has obtained the longest and most detailed vision of the environment hidden in the middle of our galaxy. The new findings could help physicists better understand the fundamental nature of black holes, how they interact with their surrounding environments, and the dynamics and evolution of our own galactic environment. The supermassive black hole located in the heart of our galaxy constantly emits flares, which can be minimal or intense, and occur randomly around the black hole.
The observations made with the James Webb space telescope have shown that the accretion disk of Sagittarius A* is constantly emitting flares. These occur randomly around the black hole and can be minimal or intense. Variations of the flashes have been observed over three months, and the scientists affirm that the results of these findings could contribute greatly to our understanding of the mysterious objects. The research team used JWST infrared cameras to observe the activity on the black hole accretion disc of the Milky Way, using 48 hours of images divided into several parts over a year, which allowed them to observe the flashes over time.
How did they discover it and what causes these explosions?
It is not yet understood what makes Sagittarius A emit sparks all the time, but the scientists suspect that there are two possibilities. One suggests that smaller flares are caused by a disturbance on the accretion disc, which creates abnormal fluctuation. The largest and most intense flares could be caused by large amounts of energy that exploit, similar to solar rashes. Another possibility is that large flares are caused by the magnetic field collision, a phenomenon that would release a huge amount of particles and energy, creating a remarkable explosion by observing the Sagittarius accretion album A.
It is still a mystery under study the flares that launch into the galaxy
These flashes are produced with variable intensities, some as short flashes and others as prolonged and blinding bursts. What makes this discovery even more intriguing is the absolute unpredictability of the phenomenon. The findings show us the image of a black hole that never rests, with the accretion disc surrounding Sagittarius A releasing a constant flow of energy, creating an uninterrupted show of fireworks. To explore these issues more thoroughly, scientists expect to use JWST to observe Sagittarius A for a longer period of time, proposing to observe the black hole for uninterrupted 24 hours. The longest observation period will help reduce noise, which will allow researchers to see even faster details.
Sagittarius A continues to challenge the scientific understanding of black holes and their behavior. Although there is still much to discover, the James Webb space telescope provides a vision of the heart of our galaxy, giving new perspectives on the processes that govern these cosmic entities. The discovery of these flares and the ongoing study of Sagittarius A will help us better understand the nature of black holes and their role in the universe.