Markarian 1018 is an “active galaxy” that has brightened and dimmed over about 30 years. The black hole at the center waS being deprived of enough fuel to illuminate its surroundings. Credit X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ of Sydney/R.McElroy et al, Optical: ESO/CARS Survey
Astronomers may have solved the mystery of the peculiar volatile behavior of a supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy. Combined data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other observatories suggest the black hole is no longer being fed enough fuel to make its surroundings shine brightly. Many galaxies have an extremely bright core, or nucleus, powered by material falling toward a supermassive black hole. These “active galactic nuclei”, AGN, are some of the brightest objects in the Universe.
Astronomers classify AGN...
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