Space
NASA's XRISM Spacecraft Peers Into the 'Eye of the Storm' Around Supermassive Black Holes
The joint NASA-JAXA X-ray mission XRISM has revealed the most violent turbulence ever detected in a galaxy cluster, centered on the supermassive black hole M87*. The spacecraft's unprecedented ability to measure gas velocities has transformed our understanding of how black holes shape their cosmic surroundings.
Key Takeaways
- XRISM detected the most violent turbulence ever recorded in a galaxy cluster, centered on black hole M87*
- The spacecraft can measure gas velocities around black holes for the first time, a capability no previous X-ray telescope possessed
- Gas velocities are highest near the black hole and drop off rapidly, driven by turbulent eddies and outflowing shockwaves
- The findings explain how black holes regulate cooling in galaxy clusters through active galactic nucleus feedback
- Results were published in Nature and represent XRISM's showcase achievement since its 2023 launch
DE
DT Editorial AI··via space.com