Spiral galaxy NGC 5195 and the X-ray arcs Schlegel’s team identified. Credit: Eric Schlegel, the University of Texas at San Antonio
Researchers used Chandra X-Ray Observatory to identify a powerful galactic blast produced by a giant black hole about 26 million light years from Earth. The black hole is the nearest supermassive black hole to Earth that is currently undergoing such violent outbursts. Messier51 system of galaxies contains a large spiral galaxy, NGC5194, colliding with a smaller companion galaxy, NGC5195.
“Just as powerful storms here on Earth impact their environments, so too do the ones we see out in space,” Schlegel said. “This black hole is blasting hot gas and particles into its surroundings that must play an important role in the evolution of the galaxy...
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