M87*, the massive black hole at the center of the Messier 87 galaxy, amazed the world when it was first directly imaged by us in 2019. With a mass 6.5 billion times greater than our Sun, Black Hole Spins this giant spins at an incredible 80% of the highest speed allowed by the laws of physics. Its rotation and intense feeding rate challenge our understanding, pushing the limits of what we think is possible in the universe; no cosmic speed limits or traffic signs here, just extraordinary power.
The key lies in its ring: how M87*’s spin was discovered
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) didn’t just capture the famous image of M87*’s glowing ring—it also showed a noticeable unevenness in its brightness. This pattern is not random; it vividly displays the relativistic Doppler effect, where light changes color based on speed. As parts of the ring move toward us, the light looks bluer; as they move away, it appears redder. This cosmic clue helped scientists measure M87*’s remarkable spin.
42 million meters per second: M87*’s incredible spin speed, pushing the limits of physics.
By examining this contrast, scientists found that the plasma close to M87*’s black hole travels at an astonishing 42 million meters per second—14% of the speed of light! This information revealed the black hole’s spin: a remarkable 0.8 on a scale where 1 is the maximum, teetering on the edge of the theoretical limit.
Fueling the Beast: The Matter Consumed by M87
This cosmic giant doesn’t just spin at incredible speeds—it also consumes matter with fierce intensity! Research indicates that matter dives toward M87* at nearly a quarter of the speed of light, with an accretion rate of 0.00004 to 0.4 solar masses per year. While this appears vast, it’s well below the Eddington limit—the highest energy a black hole or star can emit before its radiation pushes back against incoming material—showing that M87* is in a calm, steady feeding phase.
The Connection to M87*’s Particle Jet
The most exciting discovery is that the energy from this process drives M87*’s relativistic jet—a huge beam of particles stretching across thousands of light-years. Black Hole Spins This jet isn’t just a separate phenomenon; it directly results from matter falling into the black hole. Essentially, M87* is shaping its galactic surroundings at will! Black Hole Spins at 80% of Maximum Speed, Shattering Space-Time Limits and Defying Our Understanding
The Spin: Unlocking Secrets of Galaxies and Relativity
A black hole’s spin determines how it distorts space-time and fuels relativistic jets, which can clear out interstellar gas and dust, influencing star formation and the evolution of galaxies. Measuring this spin is challenging, but the EHT’s data on M87* offers a more direct and precise method than older X-ray techniques. The outcome? M87*’s plasma moves at 70 million meters per second—23% of the speed of light!
M87*: Pushing the Boundaries of Cosmic Understanding
With its rapid spin and endless thirst for matter, M87* acts as a cosmic laboratory for testing general relativity and the universe’s most extreme fluid dynamics. Black Hole Spins at 80% of Maximum Speed, Shattering Space-Time Limits and Defying Our Understanding The study suggests that its spin of 0.8 may be a cautious estimate, possibly closer to the theoretical maximum of 0.998. Far beyond its famous 2019 image, M87* now stands as a black hole whose rotation challenges the boundaries of physics. Isn’t that incredible?
M87*, the iconic black hole in Messier 87, spins at a staggering 0.8, possibly nearing the theoretical maximum of 0.998, warping space-time and fueling a relativistic jet stretching thousands of light-years. Captured in 2019 by the EHT, its uneven ring brightness reveals plasma racing at 70 million meters per second—23% of light speed. Devouring matter at up to 0.4 solar masses yearly, M87* shapes galaxies, pushing the frontiers of relativity and cosmic physics.