A team of astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope has made a groundbreaking discovery: a 200,000-light-year-long bridge of newly formed stars that seems to stretch between a runaway supermassive black hole and the galaxy it is escaping. This massive structure is twice the diameter of our Milky Way galaxy and has never been seen before, leading the astronomers to believe that they have stumbled upon a rare, bizarre game of galactic billiards among three massive black holes.
The black hole, which weighs as much as 20 million suns, is traveling through intergalactic space at an astonishing speed, compressing tenuous gas along its wake and sparking the birth of new stars. The resulting star bridge is made up of hot, young, blue stars and is located halfway across the universe.
The discovery sheds new light on the processes that drive the formation of stars and galaxies. Astronomers have long known that black holes can have a profound impact on their surroundings, but this discovery is particularly remarkable. It offers a glimpse into the complex interplay between black holes, gas, and the formation of stars.
The team of researchers, led by Yale astronomer Pieter van Dokkum, believes that their explanation is plausible, despite the fact that nothing like this has ever been seen before. The peer-reviewed study was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on April 6, 2023.
The star bridge is a testament to the power and mystery of the universe. It reminds us that there is still so much we don’t understand about the cosmos and that there are always new discoveries to be made. As we continue to explore the depths of space, we can only hope to uncover more of its secrets and marvel at the wonders that it holds.
https://earthsky.org/space/bizarre-star-bridge-links-galaxy-to-runaway-black-hole/
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