Astronomers have discovered a rare double black hole galaxy that was hidden from view until a powerful flare of light revealed its location. The flare was so bright that it was visible from Earth, and it was caused by the collision of two supermassive black holes.
The galaxy, which is called OJ 287, is located about 5 billion light-years from Earth. It is a rare type of galaxy called a blazar, which is a quasar that is pointed directly at Earth. Quasars are extremely bright objects that are powered by supermassive black holes at the center
The flare of light from OJ 287 was detected in 2019 by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), a telescope that is designed to find and study transient objects, such as supernovae and gamma-ray bursts. The flare was so bright that it was visible from Earth, and it was estimated to be about 1 trillion times brighter than the Sun.
The flare was caused by the collision of two supermassive black holes at the center of OJ 287. The black holes had a combined mass of about 10 billion solar masses, and the collision created a powerful shockwave that emitted a burst of gamma rays. The gamma rays interacted with the gas and dust in the galaxy, causing it to glow.
The discovery of the double black hole galaxy in OJ 287 is a significant finding because it is the first time that such a galaxy has been found using a flare of light. The discovery also provides new insights into the behavior of supermassive black holes and the evolution of galaxies.
Here are some additional details about the discovery:
- The flare from OJ 287 was detected by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) on September 10, 2019.
- The flare was so bright that it was visible from Earth, and it was estimated to be about 1 trillion times brighter than the Sun.
- The flare was caused by the collision of two supermassive black holes at the center of OJ 287.
- The black holes had a combined mass of about 10 billion solar masses.
- The collision created a powerful shockwave that emitted a burst of gamma rays.
- The gamma rays interacted with the gas and dust in the galaxy, causing it to glow.
- The discovery of the double black hole galaxy in OJ 287 is a significant finding because it is the first time that such a galaxy has been found using a flare of light.
- The discovery also provides new insights into the behavior of supermassive black holes and the evolution of galaxies.
Here are some frequently asked questions about the discovery:
- How did astronomers know that the flare was caused by a collision of two black holes?
The flare was so bright that it was visible from Earth, and it was estimated to be about 1 trillion times brighter than the Sun. This is much brighter than the normal output of a quasar, and it is more consistent with the output of a flare caused by the collision of two black holes.
- How did the collision of the black holes create a flare of light?
The collision of the black holes created a powerful shockwave that emitted a burst of gamma rays. The gamma rays interacted with the gas and dust in the galaxy, causing it to glow.
- What are the implications of the discovery of the double black hole galaxy in OJ 287?
The discovery of the double black hole galaxy in OJ 287 is a significant finding because it is the first time that such a galaxy has been found using a flare of light. The discovery also provides new insights into the behavior of supermassive black holes and the evolution of galaxies.
- What are the next steps for astronomers studying OJ 287?
Astronomers will continue to study OJ 287 using telescopes such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope. They hope to learn more about the behavior of the two black holes and the evolution of the galaxy.
- What are the implications of the discovery of OJ 287 for our understanding of the universe?
The discovery of OJ 287 is a reminder that the universe is a dynamic and constantly changing place. Black holes are constantly colliding and merging, and these collisions can create powerful flares of light. By studying these flares, we can learn more about the evolution of the universe.
