36 billion times the size of Sun: Biggest black hole ever discovered
The Cosmic Horseshoe galaxy is so massive it warps spacetime itself, bending light from a more distant galaxy into a striking horseshoe-shaped Einstein ring.It is within this vast gravitational lens that researchers have detected the ultramassive black hole, using an innovative method that combines gravitational lensing—the bending of light by massive objects-with stellar kinematics, the motion of stars around the black hole."This is amongst the top 10 most massive black holes ever discovered, and quite possibly the most massive," said Professor Thomas Collett of the University of Portsmouth, who led the research.Unlike most black hole mass measurements, which are indirect and often uncertain, this discovery benefits from dual evidence: the black hole's immense gravitational pull distorts light from background galaxies, and stars in its vicinity move at breakneck speeds of nearly 400 kilometres per second.This combination provides far greater certainty about its extraordinary mass.The ultramassive black hole is described as "dormant", meaning it is not currently consuming matter or shining brightly as quasars do.Instead, its presence is revealed solely by its gravitational effects on nearby matter and light. Lead researcher Carlos Melo of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil emphasised the significance of this approach, saying it allows astronomers to detect and measure hidden black holes even when they are silent.This discovery has profound implications for understanding the co-evolution of galaxies and their central black holes.Larger galaxies tend to host larger black holes, and the Cosmic Horseshoe is a "fossil group" galaxy - an end state of massive structures that have merged into a single giant one with a colossal central black hole formed by the merger of its predecessors' black holes.In our own cosmic neighbourhood, the Milky Way's black hole is a relatively modest four million solar masses, currently inactive like the Cosmic Horseshoe's but with a history of quasar activity and potential for future growth.The breakthrough method used in this research paves the way for more precise black hole mass measurements, even in the distant universe.advertisementFuture observations, potentially with instruments like the European Space Agency's Euclid space telescope, could uncover many more ultramassive black holes and deepen our understanding of their role in galaxy formation and evolution.This discovery marks an important chapter in black hole science and cosmic exploration.- Ends
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
8 hours ago
- Mint
Perseid meteor shower: When, where and how to watch hundreds of shooting stars as Venus, Jupiter converge? Check details
The Perseid meteor shower is famous for its bright meteors that often leave long, glowing trails. While in past years the shower has delivered around 40 to 50 visible meteors per hour, this year's display is expected to be less impressive, according to Bill Cooke, head of NASA's Meteoroid Environments Office. The reduced visibility is due to the timing of the shower, which comes just after August's full moon, its brightness likely obscuring many of the meteors from view. 'The average person under dark skies could see somewhere between 40 and 50 Perseids per hour. Instead, you're probably going to see 10 to 20 per hour or fewer, and that's because we have a bright Moon in the sky washing out the fainter meteors,' Cooke said. He added, "You're not going to see Perseids around suppertime. You're going to have to go out later. Look anywhere but at the Moon.' According to Meteor expert Robert Lunsford from the American Meteor Society mentioned, 'The best rates will probably be near 15 per hour, as dim meteors make up a majority of the activity.' Meteors can also be visible as early as 10 pm local time as per NASA. "You can watch for long Perseid earth grazers as soon as it gets dark until the moon begins to interfere. This will be about an hour for most folks," Lunsford added. According to Finn Burridge, a science communicator at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the Perseid meteor shower in 2025 peaks during the nights of August 11–12 and August 12–13. Viewing of the Perseids takes place until August 23. You can watch livestreaming of Perseid meteor shower on YouTube. For the best chance to see a meteor shower, head outside during the early predawn hours, when the sky is darkest and the moon is low or not visible. Avoid bright light sources, as they can hinder your view. A dark, cloudless night during a new moon or when the moon is at its smallest offers the clearest conditions. And remember to keep your eyes on the sky, not your phone. Your vision adjusts better to the dark when you're not distracted by bright screens, making it easier to spot shooting stars. Meteor showers occur when Earth moves through bands of dust and debris left in space by comets or asteroids. The Perseid meteor shower comes from Comet Swift–Tuttle, which takes about 133 years to complete a full orbit around the Sun. As Earth crosses the path of debris left by this comet, tiny particles enter our atmosphere at speeds of roughly 37 miles (59 kilometers) per second. When they hit the atmosphere, they burn up, creating the bright flashes we see as meteors.
Economic Times
10 hours ago
- Economic Times
Perseid meteor shower 2025 peaks tonight in the US: Will the bright moon steal the show? Here's how you can watch
Synopsis Skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere are anticipating the Perseid meteor shower, peaking late Tuesday into Wednesday. Despite potential interference from a waning gibbous moon, up to 100 meteors per hour may be visible in dark, open areas away from city lights. The Perseids, known for bright trails and fireballs, originate from comet Swift-Tuttle's debris stream. Skywatchers across the Northern Hemisphere are gearing up for what NASA calls 'the best meteor shower of the year' — but this time, the moon might play spoilsport. The Perseid meteor shower, active since July 17, will reach its peak from late Tuesday night into the early hours of Wednesday, producing up to 100 streaks per hour in ideal conditions. The display comes from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, a giant ball of ice and rock that takes 133 years to orbit the Sun. The shower's name traces back to the constellation Perseus, the point from which these meteors appear to radiate. According to NASA, Perseid meteors are famous for their long, bright trails and occasional 'fireballs' — meteoroids that flare into vivid colors in the atmosphere. 'Fireballs' are typically brighter than average meteors, making them easier to spot even under imperfect conditions. But this year's show coincides with a waning gibbous moon — the bright phase between full moon and half moon — which could drown out some of the fainter meteors. "You're probably going to see 10 to 20 [Perseids] per hour or fewer, and that's because we have a bright moon in the sky washing out the fainter meteors," Bill Cooke, lead for NASA's Meteoroid Environments Office, told reporters. For the clearest view, he advised, "Look anywhere but at the moon." The best viewing spots will be dark, open areas far from city lights, with the northeast sky in focus before sunrise. While the Northern Hemisphere has the prime vantage point, even casual stargazers may catch a glimpse if they avoid light pollution. The phenomenon occurs when Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by Swift-Tuttle. As these tiny particles slam into the atmosphere, they vaporize, producing the bright streaks we call 'shooting stars' or 'falling stars.' Despite the moon's interference, astronomers say the Perseids remain one of the most rewarding celestial events of the year — especially for those willing to stay up late and seek out the darkest skies possible.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Venus-Jupiter conjunction: How to catch Venus and Jupiter's brief embrace before they drift apart
In the early hours of 12 August, Venus and Jupiter appeared so close together that they resembled a double star in the dawn twilight. According to NASA, this rare alignment, known as a planetary conjunction , occurs when orbital paths bring planets close from our vantage point on Earth. The two worlds, still tens of millions of miles apart in reality, rose together in the east from around 3am and remained visible until shortly after 6am, depending on location. The pair shone in the constellation Gemini, climbing to about 20 degrees above the horizon before fading in the glare of the rising Sun. Venus remains the brightest object in the night sky after the Moon, with Jupiter following closely behind. Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals By Vaibhav Sisinity View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Venus-Jupiter conjunction: Views for all, from naked eye to telescope 'Spotting Venus and Jupiter in the sky shouldn't require any special equipment or much astronomical expertise,' NASA said in its August skywatching guide . The conjunction was visible without aid, but binoculars or a backyard telescope offered richer views. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The #1 Mistake People with Ringing Ears Make Every Night in Bed Derila Ergo Through a telescope, observers could pick out Jupiter's cloud bands and, if timed correctly, its Great Red Spot – a vast storm twice the width of Earth that comes into view about once every ten hours. Venus, meanwhile, displayed moon-like phases, something only visible through optical instruments, taking 584 days to complete a full cycle. Moonlight and Meteors share the sky This planetary meeting coincided with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower . The waning gibbous Moon, 90 to 95 per cent illuminated after the full Sturgeon Moon , reduced meteor visibility but did little to diminish the planets' brilliance. Live Events The Moon rose in the west while Venus and Jupiter climbed in the east, giving skywatchers the chance to shield its glare behind trees or buildings. For some, it was a chance to see a shooting star and a planetary conjunction before breakfast. Those who missed the peak can still catch the pair in the pre-dawn sky over the coming days. The planets will gradually move apart through August, with Mercury set to rise into view later in the month, creating a wider planetary line-up. Venus-Jupiter conjunction: A rare celestial geometry The Planetary Society explains that conjunctions occur when planets orbiting the Sun at different speeds line up on the same side from our perspective. This apparent closeness is an optical effect, but it offers a unique opportunity to see multiple planets in one frame of the sky. Venus-Jupiter conjunction: How to watch safely Experts warn against using telescopes or binoculars too close to sunrise to avoid accidental exposure to the Sun, which can cause permanent eye damage. The best viewing is from a flat eastern horizon, free of tall buildings or trees, and well before the Sun breaches the skyline.
