Black Hole

This image provided by International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) shows the strong stellar wind from the supergiant star pushes the jets launched by the black hole away from the star. via AP)

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Astronomers measure the mind-blowing power and speed of black hole jets for the first time

Astronomers measure the mind-blowing power and speed of black hole jets for the first time

Scientists for the first time have measured the instantaneous mind-blowing power of jets blasting from a black hole. The international team reported Thursday that the jet power from Cygnus 1-X, a relatively close black hole-star system, is equivalent to 10,000 suns. And the jet speed is roughly half the speed of light. Cygnus X-1 features not only a black hole but a blue supergiant star, its constant companion. This binary system is located in our Milky Way’s Cygnus, or swan, constellation. The findings appear in the journal Nature Astronomy.