Jet Near Light Speed
Credit & Copyright: P. Hughes
(UMich), C. Duncan
(BGSU)
Explanation:
Einstein's
Special Theory of Relativity says that nothing can
travel faster than the speed of light. Jets of
protons and electrons that shoot away from
objects such as
quasars and
black holes appear to travel at speeds
approaching this maximum speed, though.
Such jets carry tremendous energy and can ram
straight through
interstellar material. In the
above frame from a
computer simulation,
a jet traveling only 98 percent of light speed
rams and mixes with interstellar material.
Even higher energy jets might well explain the structure seen around
Cygnus A.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
