ⓘ NASA – Unsplash
An illustration showing a black hole and a quasar.
For the first time, scientists have measured the power of jets emitted by a black hole located 7,200 light-years from Earth. And they have also managed to measure their speed, which is impressive, providing a better understanding of these objects.
The universe contains many mysterious and powerful objects. This is the case for black holes, which are celestial objects that can absorb immense amounts of matter. But while they remain highly mysterious, scientists have recently measured the jets emitted by one of these objects, revealing their phenomenal power.
It was by studying Cygnus X-1 that they were able to measure this phenomenon. This system, located about 7,200 light-years from Earth, contains the first black hole ever identified, as well as a blue supergiant. In addition, this star is located near the black hole, which constantly absorbs its matter.
ⓘ ICRAR
An illustration showing the Cygnus X-1 system.
Thus, Steve Prabu of the University of Oxford and his team analyzed 18 years of observations from various telescopes around the world. According to their findings, the jets emitted by this black hole have a power equivalent to that of 10,000 suns. That’s not all, because their speed is also estimated at around 355 million mph (about 571 million km/h), which is half the speed of light.
To explain the presence of these jets, scientists believe that the blue supergiant is feeding the black hole. However, some of the absorbed matter is then ejected in the form of jets. Therefore, observing this system could help scientists to better understand how black holes shape their host galaxies. And studying other black holes could also provide many answers about these galactic monsters.
Image source: International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) via AP / NASA Hubble Space Telescope – Unsplash
Alexis Stegmann – Tech Writer – 627 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2025
I’ve been working in the field of web writing for several years, and I’m passionate about keeping readers up to date with the latest news on astronomy, technology, the world of video games and other exciting subjects. In particular, I’ve had the opportunity to work on a number of websites, which has enabled me to cover a wide range of subjects. In my personal life, I’m passionate about a wide range of subjects, including astronomy, video games, history and science. I’m also drawn to psychology, which is a subject that deserves greater documentation and recognition.