What object nearly every massive elliptical galaxy harbors at its center?
A supermassive black hole
Nearly every massive elliptical galaxy is characterized by possessing an extremely large central object: a supermassive black hole (SMBH). The immense scale of this central object is deeply interconnected with the overall size of the galaxy hosting it, a relationship quantified by established scaling laws such as the M–sigma relation, which links the black hole's mass to the galaxy's stellar velocity dispersion. Furthermore, in some of the largest examples, like M87, this black hole can become active, powering an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) that generates powerful, relativistic jets extending millions of light-years into space. The energy output from this central engine may even play a role in maintaining the galaxy's 'dead' state by heating residual gas.
