7
$\begingroup$

Essentially I'd like to know how bright our central black hole could appear from earth in relation to full moon brightness. Assuming maximum energy output (like when it's gobbling up an entire globular cluster). I've read that the light from an AGN could actually support photosynthesis on planets within 1100 light years, so I'm curious if it would have any affect on Earth life 25000 light years away.

https://aasnova.org/2019/05/29/do-active-galactic-nuclei-help-or-hurt-life/

Improve this question
$\endgroup$

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3
$\begingroup$

If Sagittarius A* were to ignite and feed on a massive accretion disk, blasting the massive jets we call quasars, it wouldnt be noticed by anyone here on Earth unless they were looking for it. The relativistic jets accelerate out of the poles of the Supermassive Black Hole (SMBH) shooting out of the plane of the Milky Way, not through the disk structure which would cause massive damage to the galaxy. And with the naked eye, relativistic jets wouldnt be visible to us through all the gas and dust of the Milky Way, combined with the 26000 LY away from the galactic center we are, we really wouldnt even know the quasar came to life, and the Moon would still be the brightest heavenly body at night.

For more information, check out the Wikipedia article about quasars.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
2
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ A quasar where you are looking down the jet is known as a blazar, or BL Lac object. A small fraction of AGNs are Blazars. There is no problem in seeing almost all the others. However, your answer is along the right lines. Our view of any accretion disk will be obscured. $\endgroup$
    – ProfRob
    Commented Apr 12, 2020 at 7:35
  • $\begingroup$ However, if one gave it an ~26,000 years so the plumes clear the plane of the Galaxy and its associated dust to a "height" comparable to Earth's distance from it, might one not be able to see them glowing with a noticeable brightness, or would they be too diffuse (but also, what about with a time exposure camera)? $\endgroup$
    – The_Sympathizer
    Commented Apr 16, 2020 at 10:31

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .