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Credit & Copyright: NASA,
Pablo Garcia
Explanation:
How do black holes create X-rays?
Answering this long-standing question was significantly
advanced recently with data taken by NASABs
IXPE satellite.
X-rays cannot exit a
black hole,
but they can be created in the
energetic environment nearby,
in particular by a
jet of particles moving outward.
By observing
X-ray light
arriving from near the
supermassive black hole
at the center of galaxy
BL Lac, called a
blazar,
it was discovered that these X-rays lacked significant
polarization, which is expected when created more by energetic
electrons than
protons.
In the featured artistic illustration, a powerful
jet
is depicted emanating from an orange-colored
accretion disk circling the black hole.
Understanding highly
energetic processes
across the universe helps humanity to understand
similar
processes that occur on or near
our Earth.
Put it All Together:
Astronomy Puzzle of the Day
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: black hole
Publications with words: black hole
See also:
- APOD: 2025 May 6 B The Doubly Warped World of Binary Black Holes
- APOD: 2025 May 4 B Spin up of a Supermassive Black Hole
- APOD: 2024 November 24 B Journey to the Center of the Galaxy
- APOD: 2024 October 1 B Porphyrion: The Longest Known Black Hole Jets
- APOD: 2024 June 16 B Animation: Black Hole Destroys Star
- Simulation: Two Black Holes Merge
- The Galaxy, the Jet, and a Famous Black Hole