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Biggest black hole in the cosmos discovered (18 billion suns)
New Scientist ^
| 1/10/08
| David Shiga
Posted on 01/10/2008 12:52:18 PM PST by LibWhacker
The quasar OJ287 contains two black holes (this
slightly dated illustration lists the larger black hole's
mass as 17 billion Suns, though researchers now estimate
it is 18 billion Suns). The smaller black hole crashes
through a disc of material around the larger one twice
every orbit, creating bright outbursts (Illustration:
VISPA)
The most massive known black hole in the universe has been discovered, weighing in with the mass of 18 billion Suns. Observing the orbit of a smaller black hole around this monster has allowed astronomers to test Einstein's theory of general relativity with stronger gravitational fields than ever before.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.newscientist.com ...
TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: astronomy; bigbang; biggest; black; blackhole; dividebyzero; doomsday; gammaraybursts; gigo; haltonarp; hole; science; space; stringtheory; supernova
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Wow, imagine the fireworks if and when those two merge... 18 billion suns meets 100 million suns...
To: LibWhacker
Don’t want to be within a million light years when that one pulls a gamma ray burst.
2
posted on
01/10/2008 12:56:21 PM PST
by
cripplecreek
(Only one consistent conservative in this race and his name is Hunter.)
To: LibWhacker
Must...refrain...from...wisecrack...
3
posted on
01/10/2008 12:57:45 PM PST
by
Obadiah
(I don't like to brag - but I'm half bilingual!)
To: LibWhacker
Now we know where all of those carbon offset dollars are going...
4
posted on
01/10/2008 12:57:48 PM PST
by
weegee
(Those who surrender personal liberty to lower global temperatures will receive neither.)
To: LibWhacker
18 billion suns meets 100 million suns... That'll be some family reunion. Is there enough potato salad in the universe?
5
posted on
01/10/2008 12:58:40 PM PST
by
weegee
(Those who surrender personal liberty to lower global temperatures will receive neither.)
To: LibWhacker
We’re finding out now.
Obama and Clinton
6
posted on
01/10/2008 12:58:43 PM PST
by
wastedyears
(This is my BOOMSTICK)
To: wastedyears
18 billion suns can’t be wrong...
7
posted on
01/10/2008 12:59:38 PM PST
by
weegee
(Those who surrender personal liberty to lower global temperatures will receive neither.)
To: Obadiah
he he
Seriously, when these two colide....it will be a huge GRB
8
posted on
01/10/2008 12:59:54 PM PST
by
Halgr
(Once a Marine, always a Marine - Semper Fi)
To: weegee
Better plan to Super-size the casserole dishes.
9
posted on
01/10/2008 1:01:47 PM PST
by
azhenfud
(The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.)
To: LibWhacker
Why hasn’t the smaller been completely swallowed by the larger? The mass and therfore gravitational difference is insane... the orbit of the smaller should degrade quickly I would figure... yet it seems this pair has been doing this dance for quite a while...
To: LibWhacker
I’m sorry . . . I thought this was about Hillary.
11
posted on
01/10/2008 1:04:54 PM PST
by
laweeks
To: LibWhacker
And Bill and Hillary think they are so important.
12
posted on
01/10/2008 1:04:58 PM PST
by
bmwcyle
(BOMB, BOMB, BOMB,.......BOMB, BOMB IRAN)
To: LibWhacker
Hey! Isn’t one of those Michael Moore?
13
posted on
01/10/2008 1:05:11 PM PST
by
chrisser
("Europe has become a theme-park representation of its former self." - Chrisser)
To: weegee
how in hell do they know there are 18 billion?
fuzzy math ?
14
posted on
01/10/2008 1:05:47 PM PST
by
advertising guy
(If computer skills named us, I'd be back-space delete.)
To: LibWhacker
"
.....adding that the black holes are on track to merge within 10,000 years."
I'm not waiting up with the popcorn.....;-)
15
posted on
01/10/2008 1:06:05 PM PST
by
azhenfud
(The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.)
To: Obadiah
Must...refrain...from...wisecrack...
I was thinking of a dirty crack myself......opps!
16
posted on
01/10/2008 1:06:41 PM PST
by
Mikey_1962
(Liberals want equality of outcome not opportunity.)
To: Halgr; cripplecreek
Even then, the GRB will take millions of years to reach us.
17
posted on
01/10/2008 1:07:13 PM PST
by
CarrotAndStick
(The articles posted by me needn't necessarily reflect my opinion.)
To: LibWhacker
If they collide it would be Bush’s fault.
18
posted on
01/10/2008 1:07:17 PM PST
by
SolidWood
(Al Gore: "I have never heard of this, but I think it is a very good idea,")
To: HamiltonJay
The mother of all Lagrangians must end in a sausage instability.
19
posted on
01/10/2008 1:07:21 PM PST
by
Diogenesis
(Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
To: Halgr
I’m willing to offer matter offset credits.
20
posted on
01/10/2008 1:07:54 PM PST
by
weegee
(Those who surrender personal liberty to lower global temperatures will receive neither.)
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