A Supermassive Black Hole Unveiled
While we can't directly observe the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, NASA's powerful telescopes now allow us to witness the swirling vortex of hot gas surrounding it. This captivating image showcases the glowing infrared light emitted by this cosmic whirlwind.
The multiwavelength composite tells a fascinating tale. Yellow represents hundreds of thousands of stellar nurseries, stars, and heated gas, while red signifies additional stars and gas clouds. Blue and violet depict the scorching hot gas, estimated to reach millions of degrees Fahrenheit. All this mesmerizing activity takes place light-years away, spiraling around the mysterious black hole at the heart of our galaxy.