James Webb telescope captures first mid-infrared flare from Milky Way's supermassive black hole

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured its first mid-infrared flare from Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. This observation fills a gap in previous data, which only included short-wave visible light and long-wave radio signals. The flare, detected on April 6, 2024, lasted 40 minutes and may be linked to magnetic field disturbances. Researchers suggest that energized electrons moving along connected magnetic field lines emit high-energy radiation, confirming earlier simulations. This new mid-infrared data connects previous observations and enhances understanding of the processes driving flares from Sagittarius A*. Researchers aim to further explore the magnetic reconnection and turbulence within the black hole's accretion disk.