The Jet in M87

This animation illustrates high-resolution radio observations of the radio jet from the active galaxy M87 (the radio source Virgo A). Using the Very Large Array (VLA) and the Very Long Baseline Interferometer (VLBI), structure down to about 0.1 parsecs is resolved. This is about 100 times the expected size of the black hole powering the jet. The observing wavelengths, which ranged from 90 cm to 1.3 mm, are listed with each image. The final frame shows an artist's conception of what the central engine of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) might look like if we could see it. Usage: Click "Play" to begin. Click again whenever the action stops. "Step" moves forward one frame and "Back" moves backwards one frame. Click "Stop" to pause. "Home" returns to the beginning from any point.