SUPERMASSIVE black holes are such a huge force in the universe that you'd think they'd be easy to spot from a distance.

However, an image released by Nasa proves this is not the case as the black hole in the photo below can be hard to pinpoint.

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The black hole in this image is within the bright elliptical galaxy called Messier 87 (M87).

If you look really closely to the upper left-hand side of the picture you should be able to spot jets of brightness sprouting from the centre of a cloud-like glow.

These jet-like strands are gas and dust particles being pulled into the black hole, which give off heat during the process and can be captured by an infrared camera.

Earlier this year, a close up image of this black hole was captured by the Event Horizon Telescope for the first time ever.

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The infrared image above was taken by the Spitzer Space telescope, which was focusing on M87 with its bright blue hues.

The jets of light sprouting from it are thought to spread for thousands of light-years.

Nasa annotated the image so it was easier for people to imagine the black hole in context.

The black hole, described by scientists as a "monster", is 24billion miles across - 3million times the size of the Earth.

Sitting about 300 million trillion miles away from our planet, it was photographed up close by a network of eight telescopes across the globe known as the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT).

When used together, the telescopes combine with the power of a single telescope "the size of our planet", scientists said.

The black hole is so far away, that taking the up close photo of it was equivalent to snapping a DVD on the surface of the moon.

Black holes are technically invisible because no light escapes from them but in certain circumstances, like in a bright galaxy, an outline of a black hole and the light it's swallowing can be seen.

What is a black hole? The key facts

Here's what you need to know...

What is a black hole?

What is an event horizon?

What is a singularity?

How are black holes created?

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And, distant planets may host even more life than we have here on Earth,according to one shock study.

Did you spot the black hole? Let us know in the comments!

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Theres an enormous black hole lurking in this Nasa photo can you find it? - The Sun