Astronomers captured the first direct image of a 3,000-light-year-long jet from M87* black hole, confirming theories on how black holes shape galaxies.

In January 2026, astronomers captured the first direct image of a cosmic jet launched by M87*, the supermassive black hole first imaged in 2019. The 3,000-light-year-long jet, originating near the black hole’s event horizon, was observed using the Event Horizon Telescope and advanced radio imaging, linking the jet’s source to the base of the accretion disk. This breakthrough confirms long-standing theories about how rotating black holes with strong magnetic fields eject high-energy particles at near-light speed, shaping galaxies. The findings, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, deepen understanding of black hole dynamics and their influence on galactic evolution.