https://www.france24.com/en/live-ne...over-one-of-biggest-black-holes-ever-recordedParis (AFP) – One of the largest black holes ever recorded has been discovered using a new technique that could spot thousands more of the insatiable celestial monsters in the coming years, according to astronomers.
The ultramassive black hole, one of just four ever observed, is more than 30 billion times the mass of the Sun, a new study said.
It is the first black hole ever observed using a phenomenon called gravitational lensing, in which light travelling towards us from a distant galaxy appears to magnify and bend inwards, giving away the presence of a dark giant.
James Nightingale, an astronomer at the UK's Durham University and the study's lead author, told AFP the process was "similar to shining light through the base of a wine glass".
There are currently around 500 known gravitational lenses -- at least one of which we now know is a supermassive black hole.
But "the landscape is about to dramatically change," Nightingale said.
The European Space Agency's Euclid mission, planned to launch into space in July, will open a "big data era" for black hole hunters by creating a huge high resolution map of the universe, he said.
In the next six years Euclid could find 100,000 new gravitational lenses, which would potentially point towards thousands of previously hidden black holes, Nightingale added.
Astronuc said:https://www.france24.com/en/live-ne...over-one-of-biggest-black-holes-ever-recorded
https://universe.nasa.gov/black-holes/types/ - didn't find this very helpful
ESA Euclid mission overview - https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Euclid_overview (to be launched July 2023)
Title adjusted, thanks. I am reading around methods of measurement and some of the other black holes discovered.Vanadium 50 said:Is it the largest or one of the largest?
An ultramassive black hole (UMB) is a type of black hole that is extremely large, with a mass equivalent to 30 billion times that of our sun. These black holes are found at the center of galaxies and have a tremendous gravitational pull.
Ultramassive black holes are believed to form through the merging of smaller black holes and the accretion of matter over time. As these black holes grow in mass, they eventually become ultramassive.
No, ultramassive black holes are not dangerous to us. They are located at a safe distance from Earth and their gravitational pull only affects objects that are in close proximity to them, such as stars and gas clouds.
Yes, we can indirectly observe ultramassive black holes through their effects on surrounding objects. For example, the high speeds of stars orbiting around the center of a galaxy can indicate the presence of an ultramassive black hole.
Scientists use a variety of techniques to study ultramassive black holes, including telescopes that detect X-rays, radio waves, and infrared light. They also use computer simulations and mathematical models to better understand the behavior of these massive objects.