Artist's impression of the Cygnus X-1 binary system, showing how the wind of the supergiant star bends the black hole's jets away from the star as the objects move in their orbit around one another. Astronomers have measured the power of jets from a black hole for the first time, offering fresh insight into how these objects shape the Universe. The Curtin University-led study, in collaboration with the University of Oxford, used a global network of radio telescopes to observe “dancing jets” from Cygnus X-1 — a system containing the first confirmed black hole and a supergiant star. Researchers found the jets produce energy equivalent to 10,000 Suns. By analysing how the jets were bent by stellar winds as the black hole orbited its companion, scientists were able to determine their instantaneous power and speed — about half the speed of light, or 150,000 km per second.
Artist's impression of the Cygnus X-1 binary system, showing how the wind of the supergiant star bends the black hole's jets away from the star as the objects move in their orbit around one another. (ICRAR via SWNS)
Artist's impression of the Cygnus X-1 binary system, showing how the wind of the supergiant star bends the black hole's jets away from the star as the objects move in their orbit around one another. (ICRAR via SWNS)
Artist's impression of the Cygnus X-1 binary system, showing how the wind of the supergiant star bends the black hole's jets away from the star as the objects move in their orbit around one another. (ICRAR via SWNS)
Artist's impression of the Cygnus X-1 binary system, showing how the wind of the supergiant star bends the black hole's jets away from the star as the objects move in their orbit around one another. Astronomers have measured the power of jets from a black hole for the first time, offering fresh insight into how these objects shape the Universe. The Curtin University-led study, in collaboration with the University of Oxford, used a global network of radio telescopes to observe “dancing jets” from Cygnus X-1 — a system containing the first confirmed black hole and a supergiant star. Researchers found the jets produce energy equivalent to 10,000 Suns. By analysing how the jets were bent by stellar winds as the black hole orbited its companion, scientists were able to determine their instantaneous power and speed — about half the speed of light, or 150,000 km per second.
Artist's impression of the Cygnus X-1 binary system, showing how the wind of the supergiant star bends the black hole's jets away from the star as the objects move in their orbit around one another. (ICRAR via SWNS)
By Stephen Beech
Astronomers have measured the power of jets from a black hole for the first time, offering fresh insight into how these objects shape the universe.
Artist's impression of the Cygnus X-1 binary system, showing how the wind of the supergiant star bends the black hole's jets away from the star as the objects move in their orbit around one another. (ICRAR via SWNS)
Artist's impression of the Cygnus X-1 binary system, showing how the wind of the supergiant star bends the black hole's jets away from the star as the objects move in their orbit around one another. (ICRAR via SWNS)
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
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Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
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