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Two giant black holes might crash into each other in 21 years
Geek.com ^ | 5/23/15 | Ryan Whitwam

Posted on 05/28/2015 6:23:02 PM PDT by LibWhacker

In the center of most galaxies (ours included) there is a supermassive black hole that holds everything together. However, one galaxy 10.5 billion light years away looks like it might have two black holes, and just like in Highlander, there can be only one. Scientists believe the pair are going to crash into each other in just 21 years. This could provide an unprecedented opportunity to observe the mind-boggling physics of such an event.

The galaxy in question doesn’t have a snazzy name — it’s known only as PSO J334.2028+01.4075. It’s what is known as a quasar, or an “active galaxy.” These objects blast out huge amounts of light and other electromagnetic radiation as matter falls into the black hole at the center. The light emitted by most quasars flickers randomly as more or less matter gets sucked in, but if there are two black holes in the core, there is a predictable pattern to the flickering. This is what astronomers have detected in PSO J334.2028+01.4075.

Graduate student Tingting Liu from the University of Maryland spotted the anomalous galaxy using the Pan-STARRS1 telescope on Mount Haleakala in Hawaii. It was used to analyse 316 quasars to find the right type of recurring signal, and PSO J334.2028+01.4075 was the single best candidate. The black holes in the center of this galaxy are believed to be between three billion and thirty billion solar masses.

While the data points to a collision in 21 years, that’s 21 years from our perspective on Earth. Because PSO J334.2028+01.4075 is so far away, this event actually happened billions of years in the past. We’re just lucky to have found it at the right time. Theoretically, the merging of two supermassive black holes should produce a burst of gravitational waves that warp space-time.

More instruments will surely be trained on the quasar to confirm these observations and watch what happens as the black holes draw closer. If the team’s analysis of the data is correct, they should be able to accurately predict the next cycle of light coming from the quasar. That will add a lot of weight to the claims if it proves accurate.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: 2036; astronomy; black; blackhole; blackholeprivilege; blackholes; collide; crash; crashcourse; darkmatter; gravitationalwaves; haltonarp; holes; space; stringtheory; supermassive; tingtingliu
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To: LibWhacker

Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson?


21 posted on 05/28/2015 7:05:10 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
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To: LibWhacker

Technically this means 10.5 billion years ago, plus 21 years, they will have crashed into each other, and we’re just seeing the results now.


22 posted on 05/28/2015 7:07:33 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: LibWhacker; SunkenCiv

Ping!.......


23 posted on 05/28/2015 7:24:18 PM PDT by Red Badger (Man builds a ship in a bottle. God builds a universe in the palm of His hand.............)
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To: All

Trust in God and forget it. If you truly trust in God you cannot worry, its a conflict.


24 posted on 05/28/2015 7:28:24 PM PDT by chit*chat
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To: All

PS—The same SME predicting this could not accurately get the path of the east coast hurricane correct until after it was over. Nor can they accurately predict the weather further out than 5 days. So we should take their word on anything this far in the future?????


25 posted on 05/28/2015 7:31:25 PM PDT by chit*chat
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To: LibWhacker
should produce a burst of gravitational waves that warp space-time.

Ooh, maybe we'll go back to the 1980's and I'll get my hair back.

26 posted on 05/28/2015 7:32:21 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (My tagline is in the shop.)
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To: LibWhacker
And in other galactic news our galaxy, The Milky Way, is on a collision course with The Andromeda Galaxy at a speed of about 400,000 mph. But seeing as how our galaxy and the Andromeda galaxy are about two million, three hundred thousand lights years apart it'll be a while yet till we collide.
27 posted on 05/28/2015 7:34:52 PM PDT by jmacusa (`)
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To: LibWhacker

Great name: Tingting Lu.


28 posted on 05/28/2015 7:36:47 PM PDT by Sawdring
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To: LibWhacker

Obviously another dire effect of GoreBull Warming.


29 posted on 05/28/2015 7:37:40 PM PDT by beethovenfan (Islam is a cancer on civilization.)
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To: LibWhacker

Actually... it MAY have crashed together 10.5 billion minus 21 years ago.


30 posted on 05/28/2015 7:38:59 PM PDT by Organic Panic
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To: chit*chat
PS—The same SME predicting this could not accurately get the path of the east coast hurricane correct until after it was over. Nor can they accurately predict the weather further out than 5 days. So we should take their word on anything this far in the future?????

I know I'm old and cynical.... but when I read articles like this one.... I generally don't believe any of it. I just don't.

31 posted on 05/28/2015 7:39:49 PM PDT by kjam22 (my music video "If My People" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74b20RjILy4)
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To: LibWhacker

Barry and Moochelle?


32 posted on 05/28/2015 7:49:03 PM PDT by july4thfreedomfoundation (The so-called Southern Poverty Law Center is a hate group.)
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To: LibWhacker
Nope, it'll be less than 2.1 years:


33 posted on 05/28/2015 7:53:47 PM PDT by Slyfox (If I'm ever accused of being a Christian, I'd like there to be enough evidence to convict me)
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To: Axenolith

I’m aiming for 1974 so I can put everything I have into Walmart stock.


34 posted on 05/28/2015 7:54:49 PM PDT by Ken H
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To: jmacusa

Don’t forget, The Sun is going to swell into a Red Giant, and swallow the Earth...in approximately 5 billion years!!
We’re doooooomed!


35 posted on 05/28/2015 8:00:24 PM PDT by rikkir (Anyone still believe the 8/08 Atlantic cover wasn't 100% accurate?)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Close but not quite. Those two are giant black assholes, whose egos suck away self-respect from all black people unfortunate enough to be caught in their orbit.
36 posted on 05/28/2015 8:10:55 PM PDT by lump in the melting pot (Half-brother is Watching You!)
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To: 17th Miss Regt

“We’re all gonna die!”

Nope. We’re all gonna die...AGAIN!


37 posted on 05/28/2015 8:19:14 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
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To: rikkir
Yeah, bummer. I might as well blow what equity I've got left, screw the mortgage.
38 posted on 05/28/2015 8:22:16 PM PDT by jmacusa (`)
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To: LibWhacker
"...and just like in Highlander, there can be only one."
39 posted on 05/28/2015 8:22:32 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
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To: Jack Hydrazine

40 posted on 05/28/2015 8:23:20 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
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