Astronomers watch monster black hole spit out a light-year-long jet

Astronomers see black hole in galaxy 1ES 1927+654 produce plasma jets at 33% light speed.

: Astronomers observed a supermassive black hole in the galaxy 1ES 1927+654 ejecting a light-year-long jet in real-time. This black hole, 270 million light-years away in Draco, expelled jets at one-third the speed of light. Using radio waves, the researchers witnessed these plasma jets emerge after a radio flare, extending across half a light-year each. This unprecedented observation was presented at the American Astronomical Society and could improve our understanding of such cosmic phenomena.

For the first time, astronomers have witnessed a supermassive black hole ejecting a massive jet of plasma in real-time. This remarkable event occurred in the center of the galaxy 1ES 1927+654, situated 270 million light-years away in the constellation Draco. These jets travel at 33% of the speed of light and extend across half a light-year each, which is quite significant for black hole jet phenomena.

Led by Eileen Meyer from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, the research team utilized powerful radio telescopes such as the Very Long Baseline Array to pinpoint the activity surrounding the galaxy's core. Over several months in 2024, astronomers observed structures emerging from the galaxy's central black hole following synchronized radio and X-ray flares. Initially hidden by dense gas around the black hole, the jets became visible and marked a major breakthrough in astrophysical research.

The observations were a significant talking point at the 245th meeting of the American Astronomical Society. Fascinated by the highly unusual radio flare, researchers added these findings to recent discoveries about black holes and the development of plasma jets. Publishing their work in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, this new evidence can deepen the understanding of how black holes form jets and their role in active galactic nuclei.