Milky Way’s supermassive black hole erupted two million years ago

[unhappycamper]

http://www.sciencerecorder.com/news/scientists-unravel-secrets-of-supermassive-black-hole-at-center-of-milky-way/



The brightest glow in the Magellanic Stream comes from the region nearest the Galactic Center.

Milky Way’s supermassive black hole erupted two million years ago
Science Recorder | Jonathan Marker | Wednesday, September 25, 2013

According to a recent release from the Australian Astronomical Observatory (AAO), AAO Fellow Dr. Joss Bland-Hawthorn and his colleagues have identified the last eruption from a supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy as occurring two million years ago. Although astronomers have suspected that an eruption occurred, this is the first time that astronomers have dated the occurrence.

Evidence of the eruption was drawn from the observation of a lacy filament of gas, mostly hydrogen, called the Magellanic Stream. This trails behind the galaxies two small companion galaxies, called the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds.

“For twenty years we’ve seen this odd glow from the Magellanic Stream,” said Professor Bland-Hawthorn, an ARC Federation Fellow at the University of Sydney, Australia, and a Fellow at the Australian Astronomical Observatory, who led the research team.

The results of the study have been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal, in an article entitled, “Fossil Imprint of a Powerful Flare at the Galactic Centre Along the Magellanic Stream.”

[Stargazer09]

1. Our galaxy...

...is a fascinating place.

[Ian David]

2. THANKS, Obama!! n/t

[LuvNewcastle]

3. Great picture!

I can't wait to see pictures of the gas cloud falling into the black hole. I hope they're able to film it so they can speed it up and show us the process from beginning to end.