The Observed Evolution of the M87 Jet

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Session 59 -- Low Luminosity AGNs and Active Galaxies
Display presentation, Thursday, 2, 1994, 9:20-6:30

[59.05] The Observed Evolution of the M87 Jet

F.Zhou (STScI/NMIMT), J.Biretta (STScI), F.Owen (NRAO)

We present results of continued monitoring of the jet in M87 using the Very Large Array at 15 GHz. Seven images with 0.15$^{"}$ resolution have now been obtained between 1982 and 1993. The most recent images clearly demonstrate the presence of superluminal motion at speeds approaching 3$c$ for several small features within the jet. Moreover, the general predominance of speeds in the range 0.5$c$ to 1.0$c$ is confirmed. New emission features are seen to form spontaneously within the first few hundred parsecs of the jet. A ``movie" illustrating the jet's observed evolution will be presented. Physical models for the observed motions and variations will be discussed.

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