Astronomers Spotted a Wandering Black Hole at the Edge of Its Galaxy. Then It Found a Snack
Astronomers have discovered a rare wandering supermassive black hole on the outskirts of its galaxy by observing a tidal disruption event. Using an AI algorithm to scan data from the Zwicky Transient Facility, researchers identified the black hole as it consumed a nearby star.
Why it matters
This discovery provides new insights into the formation and behavior of black holes outside of galactic centers, potentially helping scientists map the history of galaxy mergers.
An orphaned black hole that drifted toward the outskirts of its galaxy was caught devouring an unlucky star, revealing itself through a bright flash of light in deep space. The rare cosmic event had never been seen so far outside of a galaxy’s core before.
Scientists have long theorized about wandering black holes that may have gotten displaced when galaxies collide or merge together. These dormant objects are rarely seen, however, since they don’t emit light by swallowing up surrounding material. That was until researchers caught a bright flash of light released by a star as it was being torn apart, indicating the presence of a supermassive black hole dining on its remains.
The discovery , published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, could pave the way for the detection of more wandering black holes.
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