Astronomers made a groundbreaking discovery. They spotted the largest black hole jet ever seen. This colossal jet stretches an astonishing 23 million light-years. To put that in perspective, that’s like lining up 140 Milky Way galaxies end to end.
The black hole responsible for this massive jet is located about 7.5 billion light-years away from Earth. This means we are seeing it as it was when the universe was only about half its current age. The jet is so powerful that it blasts out trillions of times more energy per second than our sun.
What Makes This Jet Special?
This black hole jet, named “Porphyrion,” stands out for several reasons. First, its sheer size is unprecedented. At over 23 million light-years long, it extends far beyond its host galaxy into the vast space between galaxies. Second, it is one of the most powerful jets ever observed. The black hole at its center is consuming matter at an incredibly fast rate, fueling this enormous outflow. Lastly, it was discovered in a time when the universe was much younger and more chaotic.
How Was It Discovered?
The discovery was made using the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio telescope in Europe. Scientists were scanning the skies for black hole jets when they stumbled upon Porphyrion. They were amazed by its size and power. Follow-up observations were conducted using India’s Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) in Arizona. These observations confirmed the jet’s incredible length and origin.
The ramifications of this revelation for our comprehension of the cosmos are profound. Black hole jets are known to influence the evolution of galaxies. They spread huge amounts of energy, which can affect the growth of their host galaxies and nearby galaxies. The discovery of such a large jet suggests that these outflows may have played a much bigger role in shaping the early universe than previously thought.
The Mythical Name
The team that discovered this jet named it “Porphyrion” after a giant in Greek mythology. In mythology, Porphyrion was one of the greatest giants, symbolizing the immense size and power of this black hole jet. The next largest set of black hole jets, discovered in 2022, were named “Alcyoneus” after another giant.
The discovery of Porphyrion opens up new avenues for black hole research. Scientists are now more interested in studying these massive jets to understand their impact on the universe. They hope to uncover more such jets and learn how they influence galaxy formation and evolution.
