Astronomers find nearest pair of supermassive black holes
Posted: Thu, Sep 1, 2011, 7:24 AM ET (1124 GMT)
Astronomers announced Wednesday the discovery of the closest pair of supermassive lack holes found to date, in a galaxy 160 million light-years away. The black holes, each with a mass a million times that of the Sun, are located in the galaxy NGC 3393; astronomers were able to determine that two black holes, rather than one, are present there using observations by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Astronomers believe the black hole pair was created at least a billion years ago when the spiral galaxy merged with a smaller galaxy, incorporating the supermassive black hole at its core.
Astronomers announced Wednesday the discovery of the closest pair of supermassive lack holes found to date, in a galaxy 160 million light-years away. The black holes, each with a mass a million times that of the Sun, are located in the galaxy NGC 3393; astronomers were able to determine that two black holes, rather than one, are present there using observations by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Astronomers believe the black hole pair was created at least a billion years ago when the spiral galaxy merged with a smaller galaxy, incorporating the supermassive black hole at its core.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, September 13
SpaceX, Northrop Grumman to launch supplies to ISS
Spectrum News — 5:52 am ET (0952 GMT) Cornell-led space tech startup acquired by Pasteur Labs
Cornell Univ. — 5:51 am ET (0951 GMT) How China Is Transforming Space Power
The Diplomat — 5:46 am ET (0946 GMT) Two billionaires have very different — and equally wild — visions of a future in space. Is either possible?
CNN — 5:43 am ET (0943 GMT) Rare photos show 'deeply personal' moments in space
BBC — 5:36 am ET (0936 GMT) |
