The black hole is surrounded by a swirl of hot gas which forms a ring around it. The first ever image of a black hole, named Sagittarius A*, was released earlier this year. Scientists have found a bubble of hot gas around the black hole and its ring structure.
The way the bubble of hot gas moves around the black hole is similar to how the Earth moves around the sun. This bubble of gas wasn't seen in the image of Sagittarius A*, but it was inferred from observations using the ALMA
The bubble is moving so fast that it is notable. There is a hot bubble of gas zipping around Sagittarius A*, similar to that of the planet Mercury, but making a full loop in just around 70 minutes. It takes about 30% of the speed of light to blow a mind like this.
Data collected for the event horizon telescope project was used to make the discovery An X-ray flare is thought to have been caused by hot gas near the black hole. The researchers were able to see the flare in both the X-ray wavelength and radio wavelength. The idea of a hot gas bubble giving off flares is supported by that.
The GRAVITY instrument on the Very Large Telescope is being used to make more observations of the black hole and its environment. They might be able to understand more about the physics of black holes.
One day, we will be able to say that we know what is happening in Sagittarius A*.
The research is in a journal.
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