The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has provided evidence suggesting a supermassive black hole exists at the center of the Messier 83 (M83) spiral galaxy.
This discovery was facilitated by Webb's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). It revealed highly ionized neon gas, a potential indicator of an active galactic nucleus (AGN).
M83, also known as the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy, has been a long-standing puzzle for astronomers.
Svea Hernandez, lead author from the Space Telescope Science Institute, noted the unexpected detection of highly ionized neon emission in M83's nucleus.
The energy required to produce these signatures exceeds what normal stars can generate. This strongly implies the presence of a previously elusive AGN.
Webb's MIRI allowed astronomers to observe through dust and detect ionized gas near the galactic nucleus.
The energy needed for these signatures surpasses that of supernovae, making an AGN the most probable explanation.
Linda Smith of the Space Telescope Science Institute stated that astronomers had been searching for a black hole in M83 for years.
Follow-up studies are planned using ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) and VLT (Very Large Telescope) to investigate the gas and confirm the black hole's presence.
These observations aim to determine if the emission originates from an AGN or other high-energy processes.
This study highlights Webb's ability to reveal hidden structures within galaxies.
It opens avenues for further discoveries in black hole astrophysics.