The telescope that captured the first-ever image of a supermassive black hole at the center of the Messier 87 galaxy has produced a new image, this time depicting the black hole in polarized light. The view is crucial to helping astronomers understand how M87—55 million light-years away from Earth—is able to launch energetic jets from its core and “eat” surrounding matter.
The jets, which extend at least 5,000 light-years, are one of the galaxy’s most captivating features.
