Utilizing data from ESA’s XMM-Newton and the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), a pioneering JAXA-led initiative supported by ESA and NASA, astronomers have captured evidence of an extraordinarily swift expulsion of material from the supermassive black hole at the core of NGC 3783, with speeds reaching an astonishing 19% of the speed of light (equivalent to 57,000 kilometers per second).
An artist’s impression of the flaring, windy supermassive black hole in NGC 3783. Image credit: ESA / ATG Europe.
NGC 3783, a luminous barred spiral galaxy, resides approximately 135 million light-years distant within the celestial expanse of Centaurus.
This galactic entity was first catalogued by the English astronomer John Herschel on April 21, 1835.
Also identified by alternative designations such as ESO 378-14, LEDA 36101, and 2XMM J113901.7-374418, it stands as a principal constituent of the NGC 3783 galaxy cluster, a collection comprising 47 individual galaxies.
NGC 3783 harbors a supermassive black hole, estimated at 2.8 million times the mass of our Sun, which exhibits rapid rotational characteristics.
“The velocity of the winds generated by a black hole that we have observed is unprecedented,” stated Dr. Liyi Gu, an astrophysicist affiliated with the Space Research Organisation Netherlands (SRON).
“For the first time, we have witnessed the immediate inception of ultra-fast winds, formed within a mere 24-hour period, directly induced by a powerful surge of X-ray radiation emanating from a black hole.”
Over the course of a ten-day observational campaign, primarily leveraging the capabilities of the XRISM space telescope, researchers documented the genesis and subsequent acceleration of a significant outburst originating from the supermassive black hole within NGC 3783.
While scientists frequently attribute the power behind such phenomena to intense radiation, the prevailing hypothesis in this instance points to a sudden alteration in the magnetic field, drawing a parallel to the solar flares observed on the Sun.
Although supermassive black holes are known to exhibit variability in their X-ray emissions, this marks the inaugural instance where astronomers have definitively observed a high-velocity expulsion synchronized with an X-ray event.
This discovery emerged from what has been XRISM’s most extended continuous observation period to date.
Throughout the duration of this ten-day observation, scientific personnel noted fluctuations in X-ray luminosity, particularly within the softer spectrum of X-ray wavelengths.
Such variations, including an outburst that persisted for three days, are not considered anomalous for supermassive black holes.
However, the distinguishing characteristic of this particular outburst lies in the simultaneous expulsion of gaseous material from the black hole’s accretion disk—the spiraling disc of matter encircling the black hole.
This ejected gas achieved remarkably high velocities, attaining speeds of up to 57,000 kilometers per second, which translates to 19% of the speed of light.
The origin of this expelled gas appears to be a region situated approximately 50 times the radial extent of the black hole itself.
Within this dynamically active zone, gravitational and magnetic forces engage in extreme interactions.
The research team posits that the expulsion mechanism was driven by a phenomenon known as magnetic reconnection: a rapid restructuring of magnetic field lines that liberates substantial quantities of energy.
“This presents an exceptional chance to elucidate the fundamental processes driving the launch of ultrafast outflows,” commented Dr. Gu.
“The gathered evidence strongly suggests that magnetic forces are the primary impetus behind the acceleration of this outflow, analogous to coronal mass ejections originating from the Sun.”
“A coronal mass ejection involves the forceful expulsion of vast volumes of superheated solar plasma into space.”
“While a supermassive black hole possesses the capacity for similar ejecta, these cosmic eruptions are magnitudes of order more powerful—billions of times greater—rendering solar phenomena comparatively insignificant.”
The scientific consensus suggests that the observed black hole event, much like its solar counterpart, is energized by abrupt surges of magnetic energy.
This perspective diverges from prevailing theories that primarily attribute matter expulsion by black holes to intense radiation or extreme thermal energies.
The findings furnish novel insights into the dual nature of black holes, demonstrating their capacity not only to draw matter inward but also, under specific circumstances, to project it back into the cosmos.
This process, termed feedback, is hypothesized to play a critical role in galactic evolution and transformation over cosmic timescales, exerting influence on surrounding stellar and gaseous components and contributing to the very structure of the observable universe.
“The significance of this discovery underscores the efficacy of collaborative efforts, which are fundamental to all endeavors undertaken by ESA,” remarked Dr. Erik Kuulkers, an astronomer at ESA and the XMM-Newton project scientist.
“By precisely targeting an active supermassive black hole, these two observatories have uncovered a previously unseen phenomenon: swift, ultra-fast winds triggered by flares, exhibiting characteristics reminiscent of those observed on the Sun.”
“Encouragingly, this suggests that the physical principles governing solar activity and high-energy astrophysics may operate in remarkably analogous ways across the vast expanse of the universe.”
The research team’s scholarly paper detailing these findings was published in the December 9, 2025 issue of the esteemed journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
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Liyi Gu et al. 2025. Delving into the depths of NGC 3783 with XRISM. III. Birth of an ultrafast outflow during a soft flare. A&A 704, A146; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202557189
