The supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy M87 has long been a subject of intrigue for astronomers. Recently, LiveScience reported groundbreaking findings about this colossal cosmic entity, with new research revealing that it is spinning at 80% of the theoretical maximum speed limit allowed by the laws of physics. This stunning discovery, made by scientists using Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) imagery, offers unprecedented insights into the behavior of black holes and their powerful influence on their surrounding galaxies. The findings also shed light on how this black hole is devouring material at a staggering rate, further enhancing our understanding of these cosmic giants.

Understanding the Speed of M87’s Black Hole

The black hole at the heart of M87 weighs in at a colossal 6.5 billion times the mass of the Sun. Despite its massive size, its rapid spin adds another layer of complexity to the object’s behavior. Scientists now believe that the black hole is spinning at about 80% of the cosmic speed limit. This is significant because it challenges our understanding of how these supermassive black holes operate, pushing the boundaries of theoretical physics.

To understand just how fast this is, consider that the inner edge of the black hole’s accretion disk, where matter spirals inward before being consumed, is moving at approximately 14% of the speed of light — about 42 million meters per second. For comparison, this is roughly 3,000 times faster than the speed of Earth’s fastest man-made object. The fact that this rotation is nearing the theoretical upper limit of 99.8% of the speed of light opens up new avenues for research into the behavior of black holes under extreme conditions.

The Role of Relativistic Doppler Beaming

The breakthrough in measuring M87’s black hole spin came from studying the “bright spot” captured in the original Event Horizon Telescope images. This particular bright spot isn’t merely an artifact of the telescope but rather a direct result of relativistic Doppler beaming. The effect occurs because the material on one side of the black hole’s accretion disk is moving toward Earth at incredible speeds, causing it to appear significantly brighter than the material moving away from us.

By analyzing the differences in brightness between the two sides of the disk, researchers were able to calculate the spin of the black hole. This technique, which relies on relativistic effects, provided the most accurate measurement to date of the black hole’s rotational speed. This discovery underscores the importance of relativistic physics in understanding the most extreme cosmic phenomena.

How Fast is M87’s Black Hole Eating Matter?

Alongside the black hole’s astonishing spin rate, scientists also examined how rapidly material is being pulled into M87’s black hole. The findings show that the black hole is drawing in matter at an incredible speed of 70 million meters per second, or approximately 23% of the speed of light. While this may sound like an extraordinary rate of consumption, it is, in fact, relatively modest for a supermassive black hole of M87’s size.

This rate of material accretion places M87’s black hole well below what is known as the Eddington limit, the maximum rate at which a black hole can consume matter without blowing away the surrounding gas and dust with its powerful radiation. In fact, M87’s black hole is currently in a relatively quiet phase, feeding at a rate that is far from the maximum potential. However, this doesn’t mean that the black hole is inactive. Even with this moderate rate of consumption, it still exerts an immense influence on its surroundings.

The Energy Behind M87’s Galactic Jet

One of the most fascinating aspects of M87’s black hole is its powerful jet of plasma, which extends for thousands of light-years and is capable of reaching near-light speeds. Scientists have long speculated about the relationship between the black hole’s accretion process and the energy powering this jet. The new study shows that the energy generated by the material falling into the black hole perfectly matches the power output of the jet.

This finding is crucial because it supports the theory that the jet is not a separate phenomenon but is directly powered by the black hole’s feeding process. As material spirals into the black hole, it generates immense energy, some of which is funneled along the black hole’s magnetic field lines and expelled in the form of the jet. This process plays a significant role in the evolution of galaxies, as these jets can influence star formation and the overall dynamics of the galactic environment.