Although black holes are invisible, astronomers say flares were seen coming from a swirling disc of hot gas and dust just beyond the black hole’s horizon.

Astronomers have spotted displays of flashing lights and “fireworks” near a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, a finding researchers said could reveal details about how black holes—among the most mysterious objects in space—behave and interact with their environment.

Using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, Northwestern astrophysicists gained the longest, most detailed glimpse yet of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way.

The supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way appears to be having a party—and it is weird, wild and wonderful.

NASA's flagship space telescope captured flares from the disk of superheated material around the black hole, revealing the dynamic—and explosive—physics at our galaxy's core.

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.

Artist's concept of light flares along Sag A*'s accretion disk. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Ralf Crawford (STScI))