The M87 jet

relativistic jet · 5,000 light-years long

53.5 million light-years from Earth

Electrons spiral in magnetic fields at 99% of the speed of light. Blobs in the jet appear to move up to six times faster than light, an illusion caused by their speed toward us.

• apparent speed up to 6c: the blobs almost keep pace with their own light
• beamed toward us, so the far-side counter-jet is invisible

kind

galaxy

with

M87