Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: Astronomers have detected a twisted magnetic field in a spiral pattern around the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), indicating previously unknown features of the powerful object.
- The term “twisted” magnetic field refers to a magnetic field that has a spiral or helical shape rather than being uniformly aligned.
- This discovery sheds light on previously unknown qualities of the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy, indicating similarities with the magnetic field surrounding another black hole known as M87*.
- The twisted magnetic field structure suggests the potential for the Milky Way’s black hole to power efficient jets of material into space, similar to those observed in M87*.
