SUPERMASSIVE BINARY BLACK HOLES DETECTED
On April 6, 2006 the Chandra X-Ray Observatory released information about a recent discovery. The following description is informed by the information I found at the site of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory.
A team of astrophysicists recently announced a fascinating discovery. Through X-ray detection they have discovered a "proto supermassive binary black hole." An image of this system was obtained using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The two black holes were observed in radio images. The images reveal that two supermassive black holes are bound together by their gravity. They are in orbit. This is called a binary system.
The binary system of black holes is in the galaxy cluster Abell 400. Scientists at the Chandra Observatory were able to depict an image showing the two supermassive black holes (separated by 15") at the centre of the cluster.
According to the previously mentioned article released by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, "Each black hole is located at the centre of its respective host galaxy and the host galaxies appear to be merging. It is not, however, just the two host galaxies that are colliding - the whole cluster in which they live is merging into another neighbouring galaxy cluster.Using these new data, the team show that the two black holes are moving through the intracluster medium at the supersonic speed of about 1200 km/s."
This motion would cause what Harvard University describes as "wind." It is believed that this wind would bend the radio plasma emitted from these two black holes so that it would move in the opposite direction. Both black holes' radio plasma is being bent into jets going in the same direction. This suggests that the black holes are traveling along the same path and are therefore gravitationally bound.The black holes are scheduled to collide eventually. To view an animation of the black hole merger, click here . The animation is provided by Chandra X-ray observatory.
The two black holes began to orbit one another when the galaxies that they are located in collided. The two black holes will probably come together. However, this will not occur for several million years. The collision will cause gravitational waves. Albert Einstein predicted that this would happen as a part of his theory of relativity. According to the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, " this event will produce one of the brightest sources of gravitational radiation in the Universe."
On April 6, 2006 the Chandra X-Ray Observatory released information about a recent discovery. The following description is informed by the information I found at the site of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory.
A team of astrophysicists recently announced a fascinating discovery. Through X-ray detection they have discovered a "proto supermassive binary black hole." An image of this system was obtained using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The two black holes were observed in radio images. The images reveal that two supermassive black holes are bound together by their gravity. They are in orbit. This is called a binary system.
The binary system of black holes is in the galaxy cluster Abell 400. Scientists at the Chandra Observatory were able to depict an image showing the two supermassive black holes (separated by 15") at the centre of the cluster.
According to the previously mentioned article released by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, "Each black hole is located at the centre of its respective host galaxy and the host galaxies appear to be merging. It is not, however, just the two host galaxies that are colliding - the whole cluster in which they live is merging into another neighbouring galaxy cluster.Using these new data, the team show that the two black holes are moving through the intracluster medium at the supersonic speed of about 1200 km/s."
This motion would cause what Harvard University describes as "wind." It is believed that this wind would bend the radio plasma emitted from these two black holes so that it would move in the opposite direction. Both black holes' radio plasma is being bent into jets going in the same direction. This suggests that the black holes are traveling along the same path and are therefore gravitationally bound.The black holes are scheduled to collide eventually. To view an animation of the black hole merger, click here . The animation is provided by Chandra X-ray observatory.
The two black holes began to orbit one another when the galaxies that they are located in collided. The two black holes will probably come together. However, this will not occur for several million years. The collision will cause gravitational waves. Albert Einstein predicted that this would happen as a part of his theory of relativity. According to the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, " this event will produce one of the brightest sources of gravitational radiation in the Universe."
posted by Caroline at 2:47 PM
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