At a Glance
- Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected signs of a supermassive black hole in galaxy Messier 83 by observing highly ionized neon gas emissions.
- The detection of this ionized gas suggests the presence of an active galactic nucleus requiring energy levels far beyond what stars or supernovae can produce.
- Previously, any potential black hole in M83 was thought to be dormant or obscured by dust, but JWST’s infrared capabilities revealed the intense radiation likely caused by black hole activity.
- Researchers believe this discovery marks a breakthrough in understanding M83 and have ruled out most alternative explanations, such as shock waves or stellar processes.
- Follow-up studies using telescopes like ALMA and VLT are planned to confirm the black hole’s presence and explore M83’s energetic processes in greater detail.
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have made a discovery in the nearby spiral galaxy Messier 83 (M83), also known as the Southern Pinwheel galaxy. For decades, scientists have suspected the presence of a supermassive black hole at the center of M83, but it remained elusive. Now, thanks to Webb’s advanced Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), astronomers have detected highly ionized neon gas emissions that could be the signature of an active galactic nucleus (AGN)—a growing black hole at the galaxy’s heart.
The presence of highly ionized gas is a strong indicator of an AGN, which requires massive amounts of energy—far more than can be produced by normal stars. Until now, it was believed that if a supermassive black hole existed in M83, it might be dormant or obscured by thick dust. However, JWST’s unprecedented sensitivity and resolution have allowed scientists to peer through this dust and detect the telltale signs of a black hole feeding on surrounding material, generating intense radiation.
This discovery is a significant milestone in studying M83, which has long puzzled astronomers. The team, led by Svea Hernandez at the Space Telescope Science Institute, reported their findings in The Astrophysical Journal. They explained that the energy needed to create the observed signatures of ionized neon is far greater than that produced by supernovae or other stellar events, making the presence of an AGN the most plausible explanation. While alternative scenarios are still being explored, including extreme shock waves in the galaxy’s interstellar medium, the evidence strongly suggests that an AGN might lurk at M83’s core.
The researchers are planning follow-up studies to confirm the presence of a supermassive black hole in M83. Observations from other telescopes, such as the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the Very Large Telescope (VLT), will help further investigate the nature of the gas and refine our understanding of M83’s energetic processes. With JWST’s capability to uncover hidden structures within galaxies, this discovery opens up new possibilities for studying black holes and advancing our knowledge of the universe’s most mysterious phenomena.
References
- Hernandez, S., Smith, L. J., Jones, L. H., Togi, A., Meléndez, M. B., Abril-Melgarejo, V., Adamo, A., Alonso Herrero, A., Díaz-Santos, T., Fischer, T. C., García-Burillo, S., Hirschauer, A. S., Hunt, L. K., James, B., Lebouteiller, V., Long, K. S., Mingozzi, M., Ramambason, L., & Ramos Almeida, C. (2025). Jwst/miri detection of [ne v] and [ne vi ] in m83: Evidence for the long sought-after active galactic nucleus? The Astrophysical Journal, 983(2), 154. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adba5d
- European Space Agency. (2025, April 24). Webb spots clues of a black hole at the heart of nearby galaxy M83. Phys.Org; European Space Agency. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-webb-clues-black-hole-heart.html
