22.02.2024 16:12
Massive black hole eruption in SDSS J1531 system may have birthed star clusters, according to new study.
Astronomers have discovered one of the most powerful eruptions from a supermassive black hole in a distant galaxy cluster, according to US space agency NASA.
This colossal event, which occurred billions of years ago, may be responsible for the formation of a unique chain of star clusters observed today, according to a new article in The Astrophysical Journal.
The star system known as SDSS J1531+3414, located 3.8 billion light-years from Earth, contains hundreds of individual galaxies as well as massive reservoirs of hot gas and dark matter.
Using telescopes like NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR), researchers found evidence of a massive cavity near the black hole, suggesting an explosive event had cleared away surrounding gas.
This gas, once cooled, could have condensed into the observed clusters, arranged in a striking "beads on a string" pattern.
This discovery not only sheds light on the dramatic power of black holes but also offers insights into the star formation process within galaxy clusters.
Further study of this system could help us understand the complex interplay between black holes and star formation in the universe. -