Anenergetic jet from the core ofgiant elliptical galaxy M87 stretches outward for 5,000 light-years.This monstrous je appearsin the panels above to be a knotted and irregular structure, dectecte across the spectrum, fromx-ray to optical t radio wavelengths.In all these bands,the observed emission is likely created as high energyelectrons spiral along magnetic field lines, so calle synchrotron radiation.But what powers this cosmic blowtorch?Ultimately, the jet is thought to be produce as matter near the center of M87swirls toward a spinning, supermassive black hole.Strong electromagnetic forces are generated and eject materialaway fro the black hole alongthe axis of rotation in a narrow jet Galaxy M87is about 50 million light-years away and reigns asthe large central elliptical galaxy in th Virgocluster.
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