The galaxy NGC3393 includes two active black holes (shown in inset) that are thought to result from the galaxy's merger with a smaller companion. CREDIT: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO/G.Fabbiano et al; Optical: NASA/STScI
Posted on 08/31/2011 6:35:43 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
A monstrous black hole at the heart of one galaxy is being devoured by a still larger black hole in another, scientists say. The discovery is the first of its kind.
At the centers of virtually all large galaxies are black holes millions to billions of times the mass of the sun. Models simulating the formation and growth of galaxies predict their black holes evolve as the galaxies do, by merging with others.
Astronomers had witnessed the final stages of the merging of galaxies of equal mass, so-called major mergers. Minor mergers between galaxies and smaller companions should be even more common, but, strangely, these had not been seen until now. ..
Minor merger
In the new study, scientists may have unexpectedly detected a minor merger about 160 million light-years away in a galaxy dubbed NGC3393.
Using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, investigators have detected two black holes at its center, one about 30 million times the mass of the sun, and one at least 1 million times the mass of the sun, separated by only about 490 light-years. They are the closest supermassive black holes to Earth ever seen, according to a NASA statement.
"Seeing this was altogether a surprise," study lead author Giuseppina Fabbiano, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass., told SPACE.com.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
The galaxy NGC3393 includes two active black holes (shown in inset) that are thought to result from the galaxy's merger with a smaller companion. CREDIT: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO/G.Fabbiano et al; Optical: NASA/STScI
“The great circle of life” *ping*
So, what is the orbital period of the two black holes, and when is coalescence expected to occur? Gravity wave astronomers would like to know.
beats me.. they been merging for a billion years..
and aT&T and TMobile got kaboshed.. strange universe..
NGC 3393: NASA’s Chandra Finds Nearest Pair of Supermassive Black Holes
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2011/n3393/
More like the circle of death ... I doubt any planetary system in that mess would be viable for our type of life at the stage depicted in the photograph.
“Space Cannibal: Ginormous Black Hole”
You sure this isn’t an Obama story?
“The great circle of life” *ping*
Madeleine Kahn in “Young Frankenstein?”
Sorry.
That was a weird inside joke.
:)
“Lion King” sarcasm/black humor.
Just ignore me.
;D
OK - so if it’s a Black Hole, why is it blue and white?
Astrophysicists all over the world are having orgasms right now....spewing higher that an celestial eruption on the sun.
It wanted to avoid racism charges?
Do you write romance novels for a living?
;D
It’s twoo! It’s twoo! It’s weawwy twooo!
Ah, the sweet mysteries of life.....er...death.
Oh, skwew it.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhh
sweet mystery of life at last I found youuuuuuuuuuuuu...
I don’t think she had the “the” in her trill (from ‘Young Frankenstein’).
Nothing to see here folks.
Just Michelle having a bit of lunch
Another great rock and roll band name: Space Cannibal.
As the Event Horizon flexed its steely thighs and bared the sparkling dew of star fragments on its glowing nebula.....
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