Chandra Release - June 15, 2026

Visual Description: M87, Timelapse Video  


This timelapse sequence presents a series of NASA Chandra X-ray Observatory images of the jet from the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy M87. Rendered in shades of purple against a black background, the video reveals subtle but measurable changes in the jet's structure over more than a decade of observations. Bright knots and filamentary features appear to shift outward from the galaxy's core, tracing streams of extremely energetic particles launched by the black hole. As the frames progress, variations in brightness and position become apparent, highlighting the jet's dynamic nature and allowing astronomers to track its evolution over time.