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Behemoth Black Hole Found in an Unlikely Place
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Behemoth Black Hole Found in an Unlikely Place
This computer-simulated image shows a supermassive black hole at the core of a galaxy. The black region in the center represents the black holes event horizon, where no light can escape the massive objects gravitational grip. The black holes powerful gravity distorts space around it like a funhouse mirror. Light from background stars is stretched and smeared as the stars skim by the black hole. Credits: NASA, ESA, and D. Coe, J. Anderson, and R. van der Marel (STScI) More info: Astronomers have uncovered a near-record breaking supermassive black hole, weighing 17 billion suns, in an unlikely place: in the center of a galaxy in a sparsely populated area of the universe. The observations, made by NASAs Hubble Space Telescope and the Gemini Telescope in Hawaii, may indicate that these monster objects may be more common than once thought. Until now, the biggest supermassive black holes - those roughly 10 billion times the mass of our sun - have been found at the cores of very large galaxies in regions of the universe packed with other large galaxies. In fact, the current record holder tips the scale at 21 billion suns and resides in the crowded Coma galaxy cluster that consists of over 1, 000 galaxies
Space Image feature a selection of NASA's incredible imagery
Media ID 19854817
© NASA
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This computer-simulated image showcases the awe-inspiring sight of a behemoth black hole nestled at the heart of a galaxy. The pitch-black region in the center represents the event horizon, an invisible boundary where even light cannot escape the immense gravitational pull of this massive celestial entity. Its powerful gravity warps and distorts space around it, akin to a whimsical funhouse mirror. Astronomers have made an astonishing discovery with NASAs Hubble Space Telescope and the Gemini Telescope in Hawaii - they have stumbled upon a supermassive black hole that shatters previous records, weighing an astounding 17 billion times more than our sun. What makes this finding even more remarkable is its unlikely location within a sparsely populated area of the universe. Traditionally, these colossal objects were believed to reside exclusively at the cores of enormous galaxies surrounded by other large galactic neighbors. However, this revelation suggests that such gargantuan black holes may be far more prevalent than previously imagined. The reigning champion among supermassive black holes tips the scales at 21 billion solar masses and resides in Coma galaxy cluster - home to over 1,000 galaxies. This groundbreaking discovery challenges conventional wisdom about their distribution across cosmic landscapes and opens up new avenues for understanding these enigmatic entities that continue to captivate astronomers worldwide.
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