Astronomers reveal first image of M87 black hole and subatomic particle jet

An international team led by Chinese astronomers has unveiled a new image of the supermassive black hole at the center of elliptical galaxy Messier 87, or M87, featuring its accretion disk and the powerful jet of subatomic particles being ejected from the disk, according to a study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday.

The image is the first of its kind to show the relation between the black hole's surrounding accretion disk and the jet. The disk is made of bright and rapidly rotating particles orbiting around the black hole, while the jet is accelerated particles traveling away from the black hole at nearly the speed of light. 　

The image will allow scientists to better understand supermassive black holes, their accretion disks and how these can power black hole jets, which are considered one of the most energetic events in the universe.