{"date":"2025-05-09","explanation":"How do black holes create X-rays? Answering this long-standing question was significantly advanced recently with data taken by NASA\u2019s IXPE satellite. X-rays cannot exit a black hole, but they can be created in the energetic environment nearby, in particular by a jet of particles moving outward. By observing X-ray light arriving from near the supermassive bl ack hole at the center of galaxy BL Lac, called a blazar, it was discovered that these X-rays lacked significant polarization, which is expected when created mo re by energetic electrons than protons. In the featured artistic illustration, a powerful jet is depicted emanating from an orange-colored accretion disk circli ng the black hole. Understanding highly energetic processes across the universe helps humanity to understand similar processes that occur on or near our Earth. Put it All Together: Astronomy Puzzle of the Day","hdurl":"https:\/\/apod.nasa .gov\/apod\/image\/2505\/BLlac_NasaGarcia_4580.jpg","media_type":"image","servic e_version":"v1","title":"IXPE Explores a Black Hole Jet","url":"https:\/\/apod.n asa.gov\/apod\/image\/2505\/BLlac_NasaGarcia_960.jpg"}
