Mind-blowing power and speed of black hole jets measured for the first time

For the first time, scientists have measured the instantaneous mind-blowing power of jets blasting from a black hole.The jet power from this relatively close black hole-star system is equivalent to 10,000 suns, an international research team reported on Thursday. They also tracked the jet speed: roughly 540 million km/h (355 million mph) – half the speed of light.Located 7,200 light-years away, Cygnus X-1 features not only a black hole – the first one ever identified more than a half-century ago – but a blue supergiant star, its constant companion. A light-year is nearly 9.7 trillion km (6 trillion miles).