Astronomers Record Unprecedented Flare from Milky Way's Supermassive Black Hole

In a groundbreaking observation, scientists have tracked a never-before-seen flare from the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, known as Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*). Utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers captured this mid-infrared flare on April 6, 2024, marking the first time such an event has been observed at these wavelengths.

This remarkable discovery sheds light on the dynamic behavior of Sgr A*, which weighs approximately 4.3 million solar masses and is typically considered relatively calm compared to other black holes. However, it has been known to emit sporadic flares, and this latest observation provides crucial data to understand their origins.

The flare evolved quickly, within hours, and thus far, observations have established connections between the radio and near-infrared readings that have been studied for more than two decades. The research team, led by Sebastiano von Fellenberg from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, emphasizes that mid-infrared observations are essential for piecing together the intricate workings of black hole activity.

Collaborative efforts among various observatories, including the Submillimeter Array and NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, helped corroborate the findings. While the mid-infrared detection aligns with existing models of synchrotron radiation from cooling electrons near the black hole, significant mysteries remain unresolved, prompting further investigations into the complex magnetic interactions and turbulence within Sgr A*'s accretion disk.

The researchers presented their findings at the 245th meeting of the American Astronomical Society, with more details slated for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.