Astronomers Discover Strong Magnetic Fields Around Supermassive Black Hole in the Center of Our Galaxy
Astronomers from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy, Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*). The researchers found strong magnetic fields surrounding Sgr A*, shedding light on the mysterious forces at play near the black hole.
The EHT Collaboration initially made headlines in 2022 when they released the first image of Sgr A*, revealing striking similarities to the black hole at the center of the Messier 87 galaxy (M87*). This resemblance prompted further investigation into the magnetic fields surrounding Sgr A* using polarized light.
Located 27,000 light-years away from Earth, Sagittarius A* is a behemoth with a mass four million times that of the Sun. The EHT observed Sgr A* back in April 2017, capturing the original image and leading to the recent study on magnetic fields. By utilizing polarized light, astronomers were able to analyze the structure and strength of the magnetic fields near the black hole.
The similarities between Sgr A* and M87* suggest that the physical processes governing black hole feeding and jet formation may be universal among supermassive black holes. The EHT is planning to observe Sgr A* once again in April, this time with more telescopes joining the collaboration to observe the black hole in various frequencies.
The findings of the EHT Collaboration’s research were published in two papers in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on March 27, further solidifying our understanding of the enigmatic supermassive black hole at the heart of our galaxy.
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