Do not mistake these jets as a type of plane that we can see flying through Earth’s skies. In this case, the term “jet” refers to high-energy particles that can be found in space. Categorized under a branch of scientific study, called particle physics, these jets are believed to be produced when materials that were originally falling towards a black hole are redirected outwards. In fact, this amazing occurrence plays an important role in transporting energy and regulating the rate of new star formations.
Photo by NASAblueshift
Why is finding a jet so important to scientists? It helps them determine the direction of the black hole’s spin axis, which allows them to make more accurate assumptions about the growth and history of the black hole. Since the study found that the black hole is pointing to the same direction as the Milky Way, astronomers are able to insinuate that gas and dust have migrated steadily into the black over instead of colliding with large galaxies.
Since the activity of the giant black hole has been relatively low over the past few hundred years, the jets surrounding appears to be weak. However, scientists speculate that the jet may brighten dramatically when the black hole starts consuming material more actively.
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