The James Webb Space Telescope has shown that the Milky Way’s black hole is constantly blazing with light, releasing long flares as well as short flashes every day.

Between spotting galaxies that shouldn't exist, capturing the interstellar medium with unprecedented clarity, and identifying new worlds, the James Webb Space Telescope is a busy observatory. But as it orbits the Sun,

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is providing the best look yet at the chaotic events unfolding around the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy, observing a steady flickering of light punctuated by occasional bright flares as material is drawn inward by its enormous gravitational pull.

Astronomer Yusef-Zadeh explained that flares are expected in all supermassive black holes, but Sagittarius A is unique. Unlike others, it is constantly active and never settles into a steady state. Observations made throughout 2023 and 2024 revealed changes every time, with each viewing showing something new.

Farhad Yusef-Zadeh/Northwestern University The supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way is putting on a relentless display of flickers and flares, according to new observations from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

At the center of the Milky Way, a supermassive black hole called Sagittarius A* is never at rest. Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), researchers have captured the most detailed and longest observation yet of this turbulent cosmic entity.