Posted on Mar 31, 2021
APOD: 2021 March 31 - M87s Central Black Hole in Polarized Light
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Good morning, Rallypoint. Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) is titled "M87s Central Black Hole in Polarized Light." M87 is a galaxy in the constellation Virgo first discovered by Charles Messier in 1781. The first image of the large black hole at its core was published by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) in 2019. Data gathered by the EHT was analyzed to eliminate "closure traces" (the effects of polarization induced by our atmosphere on incoming radio waves). The results allow us to visualize the magnetic fields surrounding the black hole in M87, and we see that in today's APOD.
For years, scientists have pondered a mysterious 'jet' emerging from one side of M87 and extended far into the surrounding regions of inter-stellar space. See the apparent gap in the magnetic field (between 11 and 12 o'clock)? This could explain how matter escapes the grip of the black hole and is expelled along the lines of the 'jet'. I'll post a link to a Hubble image of the M87 jet in a separate comment.
For years, scientists have pondered a mysterious 'jet' emerging from one side of M87 and extended far into the surrounding regions of inter-stellar space. See the apparent gap in the magnetic field (between 11 and 12 o'clock)? This could explain how matter escapes the grip of the black hole and is expelled along the lines of the 'jet'. I'll post a link to a Hubble image of the M87 jet in a separate comment.
APOD: 2021 March 31 - M87s Central Black Hole in Polarized Light
Posted from apod.nasa.gov
NASA
Space
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Posted >1 y ago
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Thank you my friend Maj William W. 'Bill' Price for posting the NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) for March 31, 2021 entitled "M87s Central Black Hole in Polarized Light."
Image: M87's Central Black Hole in Polarized Light - Image Credit - Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration; Text - Jayanne English (U. Manitoba)
Interesting idea to polarize a black hole
Since M87 is 53.5 Million light years away. we appear to be seeing a 53.5 million year-old image
APOD Background
"Explanation: To play on Carl Sagan’s famous words "If you wish to make black hole jets, you must first create magnetic fields." The featured image represents the detected intrinsic spin direction (polarization) of radio waves. The polarization is produced by the powerful magnetic field surrounding the supermassive black hole at the center of elliptical galaxy M87. The radio waves were detected by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), which combines data from radio telescopes distributed worldwide. The polarization structure, mapped using computer generated flow lines, is overlaid on EHT’s famous black hole image, first published in 2019. The full 3-D magnetic field is complex. Preliminary analyses indicate that parts of the field circle around the black hole along with the accreting matter, as expected. However, another component seemingly veers vertically away from the black hole. This component could explain how matter resists falling in and is instead launched into M87’s jet."
The Youngbloods
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs SMSgt Lawrence McCarter Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen LTC (Join to see) SCPO Morris Ramsey MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Sgt Albert Castro PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG Stephen Rogerson SSG Samuel Kermon SSG Franklin Briant SP5 Geoffrey Vannerson SMSgt David A Asbury A1C Riley Sanders SPC Margaret Higgins SPC Michael Oles SR TSgt David L. Maj Marty Hogan
Image: M87's Central Black Hole in Polarized Light - Image Credit - Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration; Text - Jayanne English (U. Manitoba)
Interesting idea to polarize a black hole
Since M87 is 53.5 Million light years away. we appear to be seeing a 53.5 million year-old image
APOD Background
"Explanation: To play on Carl Sagan’s famous words "If you wish to make black hole jets, you must first create magnetic fields." The featured image represents the detected intrinsic spin direction (polarization) of radio waves. The polarization is produced by the powerful magnetic field surrounding the supermassive black hole at the center of elliptical galaxy M87. The radio waves were detected by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), which combines data from radio telescopes distributed worldwide. The polarization structure, mapped using computer generated flow lines, is overlaid on EHT’s famous black hole image, first published in 2019. The full 3-D magnetic field is complex. Preliminary analyses indicate that parts of the field circle around the black hole along with the accreting matter, as expected. However, another component seemingly veers vertically away from the black hole. This component could explain how matter resists falling in and is instead launched into M87’s jet."
The Youngbloods
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs SMSgt Lawrence McCarter Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen LTC (Join to see) SCPO Morris Ramsey MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Sgt Albert Castro PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG Stephen Rogerson SSG Samuel Kermon SSG Franklin Briant SP5 Geoffrey Vannerson SMSgt David A Asbury A1C Riley Sanders SPC Margaret Higgins SPC Michael Oles SR TSgt David L. Maj Marty Hogan
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byDDuuf13ow
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byDDuuf13ow
FYI CSM Bruce TregoSPC Woody Bullard CPL Douglas ChryslerCpl (Join to see) SFC William Farrell SPC Michael TerrellSSG Jimmy CernichSSG Paul Headlee SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D CWO3 (Join to see) SSG Michael Noll SPC Randy Zimmerman Sgt Albert Castro Sgt Vance Bonds Cpl Vic Burk PO1 H Gene Lawrence Maj William W. 'Bill' Price SSgt Clare May SPC Margaret Higgins
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Learned something new -- Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) -- thanks for posting another stunning photo
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Good "Wednesday & Hump Day" Morning my good friend and Astronomy Enthusiast Maj William W. 'Bill' Price - another great share this morning with the APOD Titled: "M87s Central Black Hole in Polarized Light." Thank you and have a great day Bill!
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