WEBB Catches Black Hole Fireworks

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured the most detailed look yet at the heart of our galaxy. Sagittarius A, the supermassive black hole at its core, is constantly flaring with no breaks.

Webb’s NIRCam observed the black hole for a year, revealing unpredictable bursts of light. Scientists believe smaller flickers come from turbulence, while the biggest flares result from magnetic fields colliding.

These findings help us better understand how black holes shape their surroundings. Sagittarius A is more active than expected, offering a rare look at the forces driving our galaxy.

For more information, visit https://webb.nasa.gov/.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Paul Morris: Lead Producer
Paper is by F. Yusef-Zadeh and will be published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters

Opening Black Hole Visualization:

Producer: Scott Wiessinger

Visualizer:Jeremy Schnittman

Computer support: Brian Powell



Music Credit:
"Miniature Universe" by Geoffrey Wilkinson [PRS] via True Stories [PRS], and Universal Production Music.