Astronomers recently discovered one of the most massive black holes to date in the cosmic background. This supermassive black hole contains 17 billions times the mass of the Sun, only slightly smaller than the most massive black hole ever found, which is 21 billion solar masses. For comparison, the black hole at the center of the Milky Way totals only 4 solar masses . This newly found black hole lies in the center of the galaxy NGC 1600, which lies 200 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Eridanus. Supermassive black holes likely form by taking in lots of dust and debris early in their life and then by colliding and merging with other black holes. Some researchers are also hypothesizing that this supermassive black hole is currently
…show more content…
Its location in galaxy NGC 1600 is unusual because that is an average-size galaxy group, and the supermassive black holes discovered to date tend to be found in dense clusters of galaxies. Astronomers potentially now need to re-examine their theories on where gigantic black holes reside, and where others might lay in the Universe, meaning that black holes are possibly far more common than previously thought. According to astronomer Chung-Pei Ma: “The black hole is much bigger than we expected for the size of the galaxy or where this galaxy lives.” It would also be a significantly interesting discovery if this black hole is, in fact, two black holes in the process of merging, a phenomenon that astronomers would benefit from observing. Overall this discovery proves that supermassive black holes are not only found in densely populated regions of the Universe, as they could be found in sparsely populated areas, like NGC 1600, as well. The primary source, an article written by Sarah Lewin, has several noticeable strengths. The article successfully conveys all the necessary background information about the black hole. It also goes into great detail to describe the significance of this discovery, utilizing quotes from authoritative sources and in depth analysis. Furthermore, the article adds an interesting dynamic by suggesting that the black hole might actually be two twins in the process
Its location in galaxy NGC 1600 is unusual because that is an average-size galaxy group, and the supermassive black holes discovered to date tend to be found in dense clusters of galaxies. Astronomers potentially now need to re-examine their theories on where gigantic black holes reside, and where others might lay in the Universe, meaning that black holes are possibly far more common than previously thought. According to astronomer Chung-Pei Ma: “The black hole is much bigger than we expected for the size of the galaxy or where this galaxy lives.” It would also be a significantly interesting discovery if this black hole is, in fact, two black holes in the process of merging, a phenomenon that astronomers would benefit from observing. Overall this discovery proves that supermassive black holes are not only found in densely populated regions of the Universe, as they could be found in sparsely populated areas, like NGC 1600, as well. The primary source, an article written by Sarah Lewin, has several noticeable strengths. The article successfully conveys all the necessary background information about the black hole. It also goes into great detail to describe the significance of this discovery, utilizing quotes from authoritative sources and in depth analysis. Furthermore, the article adds an interesting dynamic by suggesting that the black hole might actually be two twins in the process