Astronomers spot gas cloud approaching black hole
Posted: Thu, Dec 15, 2011, 7:54 AM ET (1254 GMT)
Astronomers announced this week the discovery of a cloud of gas that will fall into our galaxy's supermassive black hole within the next two years. European astronomers found the gas cloud, about three times the mass of the Earth, rapidly approaching the black hole at the core of our galaxy. The cloud will come within about 40 billion kilometers of the black hole's event horizon by mid-2013, with the black hole's gravity already starting to stretch out and disrupt the cloud. Astronomers said the gas will be the black hole's major "meal" for the next few years because of a lack of other material in the immediate vicinity of the black hole.
Astronomers announced this week the discovery of a cloud of gas that will fall into our galaxy's supermassive black hole within the next two years. European astronomers found the gas cloud, about three times the mass of the Earth, rapidly approaching the black hole at the core of our galaxy. The cloud will come within about 40 billion kilometers of the black hole's event horizon by mid-2013, with the black hole's gravity already starting to stretch out and disrupt the cloud. Astronomers said the gas will be the black hole's major "meal" for the next few years because of a lack of other material in the immediate vicinity of the black hole.
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) |
