supermassive black holes

Astronomers have discovered and measured the most massive duo of supermassive black holes to date

Discover the heaviest pair of supermassive black holes ever measured by astronomers using data from the Gemini North telescope. Located in galaxy B2 0402+379, these colossal black holes, estimated to be 28 billion times the mass of our Sun, provide key insights into the dynamics of binary systems and the potential prevention of mergers. Dive into the awe-inspiring findings that support existing theories and explore the intriguing possibility of these black holes remaining in orbital limbo.
A group of astronomers used data from the Gemini North telescope to measure the weight of the heaviest pair of supermassive black holes ever discovered. These colossal black holes, located in the elliptical galaxy B2 0402+379, are estimated to be a staggering 28 billion times the mass of our Sun. This finding supports the idea that the mass of a supermassive binary black hole is crucial in preventing a potential merger.
The measurement of this extreme supermassive binary black hole’s mass is seen as an impressive example of the impact of exploring rich archival data. Martin Still, the NSF program director for the International Gemini Observatory, describes it as awe-inspiring.
When two galaxies come together, their black holes can team up to form a binary pair. Although it’s theorized that these binary systems will eventually merge, direct observation of this phenomenon has never occurred. Even though there’s proof that supermassive black holes get near each other, none have succeeded in bridging the last bit of distance required for a merger. Astronomers have debated for decades whether such an event is possible.
One prevailing theory suggests that these binary systems are so massive that they deplete their host galaxy of the stellar material required for a merger. The studied binary black hole provides strong evidence supporting this notion.
The research team concluded that an exceptionally large number of stars would have been necessary to slow down the binary’s orbit, bringing them as close as observed. In the process, the black holes appear to have expelled almost all surrounding matter, leaving the core of their galaxy without stars and gas. With no more material available to further slow their orbit, the merger has stalled in its final stages.
It remains uncertain whether the pair will overcome their stagnation and eventually merge over millions of years or remain in a perpetual orbital standstill. Considering that B2 0402+379 is classified as a fossil cluster, resulting from the merger of an entire galaxy cluster’s worth of stars and gas into one massive galaxy, the likelihood of another galactic merger is low.
The lead author of the study, Tirth Surti, a Stanford undergraduate, expresses anticipation for future investigations of B2 0402+379’s core to determine the presence of gas. This data might give us a glimpse into whether the supermassive black holes will eventually join forces or stay stuck in a binary arrangement.

Also Read: Unveiling the Magnetic Tapestry of the Universe: Mapping the Gigantic ‘El Gordo’ Galaxy Cluster

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