Hubble Discovers Intermediate-Mass Black Hole in Omega Centauri
CREDIT:GOOGLE
Hubble Discovery
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has found compelling evidence for an intermediate-mass black hole in the star cluster Omega Centauri.
Black Hole
This discovery suggests the presence of an intermediate-mass black hole, filling the gap between stellar-mass and supermassive black holes.
Omega Centauri
Omega Centauri is the largest and brightest globular cluster in the Milky Way, located about 16,000 light-years away.
Evidence Collected
Hubble detected the black hole through precise measurements of star movements within Omega Centauri, indicating the gravitational influence of a massive unseen object.
Black Hole Mass
The intermediate-mass black hole in Omega Centauri is estimated to have a mass roughly 100 times that of the Sun.
Star Movements
Stars near the core of Omega Centauri exhibit rapid movements, a key indicator of the black hole's presence.
Research Impact
This discovery impacts our understanding of how black holes merge and grow, providing insights into cosmic phenomena.
Future Observations
Future observations with Hubble and other telescopes will further investigate intermediate-mass black holes and their environments.