Today I Learned (TIL)

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TIL that powerful jets of high-energy particles created by supermassive black holes must be pointed at Earth to be called a Blazar (www.nasa.gov)

submitted 4 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago

They’re pointing directly at the American Gladiator stadium

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Well, would we even see them if they weren't? (Serious question).

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 months ago (1 children)

If the angle of the jet is more then a little off axis the jet may still visible if it is sufficiently powerful and it passes through a scattering medium (interstellar dust?) the wiki page for blazars shows just such an example in the M87 galaxy

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago

That makes sense. Thanks for the link.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I'm not an astronomy expert, but I believe that the effect of the jets can be seen distorting dust clouds surrounding such objects.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago

Ah, that makes sense

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Where does it need to be pointed to be called a ‘Tie and Blazar”?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

aimed at Bedford, NY you can see the Chevy Blazar