Free Astronomy Magazine September-October 2024

32 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2024 ASTRO PUBLISHING black hole at their center. How these black holes grow remains a mystery to astronomers. A team of scientists chose to study the relatively nearby galaxy ESO320-G030, only 120 mil- lion light years away from Earth. This galaxy is very active, forming stars ten times as fast as our own Milky Way. Astronomers measured light from molecules carried by winds from the galaxy’s core, hop- ing to trace their origin from the su- permassive black hole. ALMA was used to study this light, from the wavelengths of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) molecules, hidden within thick layers of dust and gas. ALMA was able to see details and trace movements in the gas, and discovered patterns that suggest the presence of a magnetized, ro- tating wind. While other winds and jets in the center of galaxies push material away from their core, as- Supermassive black hole appears to grow like a baby star H ow do supermassive black holes get so big? An interna- tional team of astronomers, including scientists at the U.S. Na- tional Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) have discovered a powerful, rotating, magnetic wind that they believe is helping a galaxy’s central supermassive black hole to grow. Most galaxies, including our own Milky Way, have a supermassive by ALMA Observatory Bárbara Ferreira