Astronomers Measure the Long Reach of a Quasar

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Schematic illustration of the hierarchical structure of the Universe, from a galaxy group (a collection of galaxies) to an individual galaxy and the supermassive black hole at its center.</p><p>Although a black hole is more than 100 million times smaller than the radius of its host galaxy, it plays a crucial role in the galaxy's central region. ©Tohoku Universityhttps://www.universetoday.com/article_images/145_blackholes_fig1_20260731_172816.jpg" width="1280" />

There are a number of things in the Universe that could wipe out life as we know it, but — for now, and for Earth — a blast from our galaxy's supermassive black hole isn't one of them.

That's not to say that Sagittarius A* doesn't pose a danger.

If it wakes up someday and blasts out a strong wind, that definitely could affect Earth.

It could well have powered a quasar in the past, and could do so again.

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