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Scientists Make First-Ever Detection of Mid-IR Flares in Sgr A*

  • This artist’s conception of the mid-IR flare in Sgr A* captures the variability, or changing intensity, of the flare as the black hole’s magnetic field lines approach each other. The byproduct of this magnetic reconnection is synchrotron emission. The emission seen in the flare intensifies as energized electrons travel along the SMBH’s magnetic field lines at close to the speed of light. Credit: CfA/Mel Weiss

    This artist’s conception of the mid-IR flare in Sgr A* captures the variability, or changing intensity, of the flare as the black hole’s magnetic field lines approach each other. The byproduct of this magnetic reconnection is synchrotron emission. The emission seen in the flare intensifies as energized electrons travel along the SMBH’s magnetic field lines at close to the speed of light. 

    Credit: CfA/Mel Weiss

    Low Resolution Image

    High Resolution Image

  • This artist’s conception of the mid-IR flare in Sgr A* captures the variability, or changing intensity, of the flare as the black hole’s magnetic field lines approach each other. The byproduct of this magnetic reconnection is synchrotron emission. The emission seen in the flare intensifies as energized electrons travel along the SMBH’s magnetic field lines at close to the speed of light. The labels mark how the flare’s spectral index changes from the beginning to the end of the flare. Credit: CfA/Mel Weiss 

    This artist’s conception of the mid-IR flare in Sgr A* captures the variability, or changing intensity, of the flare as the black hole’s magnetic field lines approach each other. The byproduct of this magnetic reconnection is synchrotron emission. The emission seen in the flare intensifies as energized electrons travel along the SMBH’s magnetic field lines at close to the speed of light. The labels mark how the flare’s spectral index changes from the beginning to the end of the flare. 

    Credit: CfA/Mel Weiss
     

    Low Resolution Image

    High Resolution Image

  • This artist’s animated conception of the mid-IR flare in Sgr A*

    This artist’s animated conception of the mid-IR flare in Sgr A* captures the variability, or changing intensity, of the flare as the black hole’s magnetic field lines approach each other. The byproduct of this magnetic reconnection is synchrotron emission. The emission seen in the flare intensifies as energized electrons travel along the SMBH’s magnetic field lines at close to the speed of light. 

    Credit: CfA/Mel Weiss, Amy C. Oliver

    Animation

  • This artist's conception of the mid-IR flare in Sgr A* captures the apparent movement of the flare as energized electrons spiral along the magnetic field lines of the supermassive black hole, and spike its intensity. These changes, or variability in intensity are known as synchrotron emission.Credit: CfA/Mel Weiss

    This artist's conception of the mid-IR flare in Sgr A* captures the apparent movement of the flare as energized electrons spiral along the magnetic field lines of the supermassive black hole, and spike its intensity. These changes, or variability in intensity are known as synchrotron emission.

    Credit: CfA/Mel Weiss

    Low Resolution Image

    High Resolution Image

  • This 360-degree panoramic image reveals the plane of our Milky Way Galaxy edge-on from our perspective on Earth, and provides an almost “outside looking in” view of its disk, and central bulge. Scientists have, for the first time ever, successfully observed a mid-IR flare in Sgr A*, the supermassive black hole that resides at the heart of the Milky Way. Credit: ESO, S. Brunier

    This 360-degree panoramic image reveals the plane of our Milky Way Galaxy edge-on from our perspective on Earth, and provides an almost “outside looking in” view of its disk, and central bulge. Scientists have, for the first time ever, successfully observed a mid-IR flare in Sgr A*, the supermassive black hole that resides at the heart of the Milky Way. 

    Credit: ESO, S. Brunier

    Low Resolution Image

    High Resolution Image