New Delhi:

The Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on Webb has discovered neon gas in the central regions of the galaxy, which is a telltale signature of an active galactic nuclei (AGN). Webb has also spotted signs of highly ionised gas in small clumps near the heart of the galaxy. Processes in the galaxy such as stellar evolution and supernovae are not sufficiently energetic to produce these signatures, with an AGN being the most likely explanation. AGN are formed by disks of debris falling into a supermassive black hole. The extreme friction causes the tortured infalling material to glow in frequencies across the electromagnetic spectrum, at times outshining all the stars in the surrounding galaxy.

The James Webb Space Telescope has peered into the barred spiral galaxy designated as Messier 83 (M83), NGC 5236 or the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy. M83 is a well-studied galaxy that was originally discovered by French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1752, about two centuries before scientists knew of the existence of islands of stars called galaxies. M83 is at a distance of only 15 million lightyears in the constellation of Hydra, and measures 50,000 lightyears across. Actively feeding supermassive black holes often occupy the cores of such large spiral galaxies, but astronomers have struggled to confirm one in M83 for decades.

Challenging past assumptions

M83 has been extensively studied over centuries, and astronomers believed that this spiral galaxy did not harbour a supermassive black hole. While Webb has provided a peek into the possibilities, the researchers need to conduct additional observations to gather supporting evidence. The researchers plan to conduct follow-up observations with the most powerful ground and space based telescope to further investigate the signature of the gas detected, and confirm the presence of a supermassive black hole. These observations will also help determine if the observed emissions were from an AGN, or some other, unknown process. A paper describing the findings has been published in The Astrophysical Journal.

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