 How Spitzer Revealed Andromeda's Feeding Habits

Exploring the Feeding Habits of Supermassive Black Holes

Streams of dust flow toward the supermassive black hole, revealing the feeding habits of these cosmic giants.

[{"selector":"#anim-d67227ea-fe06-4e76-9957-4d0588507efc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9cfc689a-5a9b-46c3-bed0-335f4ab012ae","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.37704%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b13dbc42-93eb-473f-beaa-707073d5ab62","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Credit:NASA

Gas and dust create incredible light shows as they heat up before being consumed by the black hole.

[{"selector":"#anim-0700f637-33b5-4ccf-944a-d855a6ecd3be [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3d62b7b9-8135-42d3-b09d-08ad5c2028c1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(124.54873%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e6e3a387-4a5d-43db-8230-65b4da1fbff9","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Credit: Phys.org

The black holes in the Milky Way and Andromeda are among the quietest eaters, emitting steady light due to their consumption of a continuous flow of food.

[{"selector":"#anim-be5cdb9c-f9ee-41d4-83bf-e035248fbe71","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(122.14764%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f9b793fe-8a69-4bdb-9b57-c7b87ac0a5d2","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Credit: Wikipedia

Streams of gas and dust approach the black hole in a spiral, similar to water swirling down a drain.

[{"selector":"#anim-b2e10d7d-f9ef-4b2d-9cc5-23da2412611b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e5efeaf5-f194-45f8-89b3-9484a7577590","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(121.33333%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dbe0d980-b2c3-46a3-9b1b-7b8a235fdaea","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Credit: NASA

Scientists simulate how gas and dust behave around Andromeda's black hole, revealing a continuous feeding process.

[{"selector":"#anim-56df67b6-3eb1-482f-9088-6b717126ac6b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-83e45422-dfcd-4e89-8071-65ea40386c17","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.46204%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-531a205f-838f-4302-9820-3536e94ab032","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Credit: Wikipedia

Scientists reexamine archival data to reveal hidden dynamics and confirm that spirals of dust feed Andromeda's supermassive black hole.

[{"selector":"#anim-4e748950-12f4-44d6-b71c-7959164701ad [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f3c2e6e-3543-4727-91d6-02f532e7cea3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(119.34425%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-834bb9f6-a70f-49c0-b469-751832fdb688","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Credit: NASA

Spitzer's infrared view unveils surprises in Andromeda's structure, providing deeper insights into the galaxy's dynamics.

[{"selector":"#anim-43c924f5-941f-4915-8472-023af36cffa5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dff36bc1-3abd-4cca-9995-a8ad37ca28cc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.13201%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-421e0c4b-5297-41f7-a6fa-9a62280ac041","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Credit: NASA

Exploring the universe's mysteries with Spitzer - Revealing the hidden dynamics of galaxies and supermassive black holes.

[{"selector":"#anim-a0bcb7b5-ee4f-4f11-93e8-d2b9b1277360 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4f0e071-25c3-465c-a5ae-f2a1a96cedf4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(125.51723%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9128b38a-e847-4b4c-8b16-96ba2d0a2341","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Credit: NASA