On January 17, 2025, researchers from the University of Arizona published groundbreaking infrared images of an active galactic nucleus (AGN) in the galaxy NGC 1068, located 47 million light-years away. This achievement was made possible using the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer (LBTI), which enables detailed examination of energetic processes surrounding supermassive black holes.
Active galactic nuclei are regions at the centers of certain galaxies where supermassive black holes reside. As material falls into these black holes, immense energy is released, making AGNs among the universe's most energetic phenomena. The study, conducted in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Germany, provides the highest-resolution infrared images of AGNs to date.
Jacob Isbell, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arizona and the lead author of the study, explained that every galaxy contains a supermassive black hole at its center, with varying activity levels depending on the material accretion rate. An active black hole emits more light as its surrounding disk accumulates material, becoming what is known as an active supermassive black hole.
The AGN in NGC 1068 is one of the closest active galactic nuclei to the Milky Way. The Large Binocular Telescope, located on Mount Graham in southeastern Arizona, employs two mirrors, each 8.4 meters in diameter, allowing for exceptionally high-resolution imaging. This technique has previously been applied to study volcanic activity on Jupiter's moon Io, encouraging researchers to explore AGNs.
Isbell noted, "The active galactic nucleus in NGC 1068 is particularly bright, making it an ideal opportunity to test this method. These are the highest-resolution direct images of AGNs ever taken." The team observed simultaneous cosmic phenomena within the active galactic nucleus.
The images revealed a dust storm generated by radiation pressure from light emanating from the disk surrounding the black hole. Additionally, a bright material was detected at a greater distance, appearing brighter than expected due to the disk's illumination. Researchers linked this finding to a radio jet impacting and heating gas clouds and dust molecules within the galaxy.
The study illustrates how radio jets and dusty winds influence their environments. "Now we can distinguish between the effects of radio jets and dust storms, thanks to the telescope's high resolution," Isbell stated.
Large telescopes like the LBTI and the Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile offer unprecedented opportunities to observe cosmic processes in greater detail than ever before. "This type of imaging can be applied to any astronomical object," Isbell added. "We have already begun investigating disks around stars or massive stars with surrounding dust envelopes."