supermassive black hole tagged posts

A “radio phoenix” has been discovered using X-ray, radio, and optical data. This system contains the collision of two galaxy clusters located about 1.6 billion light years from Earth. The collision re-energized a regeneration of vast clouds of high-energy particles that primarily radiate at radio frequencies. Understanding how galaxy clusters grow over time, including through collisions, is important for cosmology. X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ of Hamburg/F. de Gasperin et al; Optical: SDSS; Radio: NRAO/VLA

Astronomers have found evidence for a faded electron cloud “coming back to life,” like the phoenix, after 2 galaxy clusters collided. This “radio phoenix,” so-called because the high-energy electrons radiate primarily at radio frequencies, is found in Abell 1033. The system is located about 1...

An artist’s illustration of a supermassive black hole, actively feasting on its surroundings. The central black hole is hidden from direct view by a thick layer of encircling gas and dust. Credit: NASA/ESA.

Using NASA’s Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) satellite observatory, a Durnham University team detected high-energy xrays from 5 supermassive black holes previously clouded from direct view by dust and gas. It supports the theory that potentially millions more supermassive black holes exist in the Universe, but are hidden from view.

The scientists pointed NuSTAR at 9 candidate hidden supermassive black holes that were thought to be extremely active at the centre of galaxies, but where the full extent of this activity was potentially obscured from view.
High-energy x-r...