Black hole surprise in ancient star cluster
Astronomers have made the unexpected discovery of two black holes inside an ancient cluster of stars in our galaxy, the Milky Way. The research, published October 3 in the journal Nature, describes the detection of two black holes that are about 10 to 20 times heavier than our Sun in the globular cluster named M22.
Black holes, so dense that even light can't escape them, are what is left when a massive star reaches the end of its life and collapses in on itself.
Co-author Dr James Miller-Jones, from the Curtin University node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), said the discovery of two black holes in the same cluster was a complete surprise. All the theory up to now says that should not happen in a globular cluster that is 12 billion years old.
"The study was originally searching for just one larger black hole within the cluster of hundreds of thousands of stars which, when viewed from the naked eye, resembles a hazy round 'puff' of light," he said.
"Simulations of how globular clusters evolve show many black holes are created early in a cluster's history."
"The many black holes then sink towards the middle of the cluster where they begin a chaotic dance leading to most being thrown out of the cluster until only one surviving black hole remains.
"We were searching for one large black hole in the middle of the cluster, but instead found two smaller black holes a little way out from the centre, which means all the theory and simulations need refinement."
Dr Miller-Jones said the newly discovered black holes are the first to be found in a globular cluster in our galaxy. M22 is about 10,000 light years from Earth but can be seen clearly with a backyard telescope.
"M22 may contain as many as 100 black holes but we can't detect them unless they're actively feeding on nearby stars," he said.
"We plan to do further study to pin down the properties of the two we've already found."
The research was led by Assistant Professor Jay Strader from Michigan State University and The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and also involved colleagues from The National Radio Astronomy Observatory, The University of Utah in the United States and The University of Southampton in the United Kingdom.
ICRAR is a joint venture between Curtin University and The University of Western Australia providing research excellence in the field of radio astronomy.
Source: International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR)
Articles on the same topic
- Peering to the edge of a black holeThu, 27 Sep 2012, 19:36:46 UTC
Other sources
- Black holes provide us with knowledge of the Earthfrom PhysorgThu, 11 Oct 2012, 11:30:34 UTC
- Sky survery finds hidden giant black holesfrom UPIMon, 8 Oct 2012, 20:31:15 UTC
- Sky survery finds hidden giant black holesfrom UPIMon, 8 Oct 2012, 19:30:56 UTC
- Giant black holes lurking in survey datafrom PhysorgMon, 8 Oct 2012, 17:31:29 UTC
- New Black Hole Discovered [Video]from PopSciMon, 8 Oct 2012, 17:31:20 UTC
- TMT Will Take Discoveries of Stars Orbiting the Milky Way's Monster Black Hole to the Next Levelfrom Newswise - ScinewsMon, 8 Oct 2012, 15:01:30 UTC
- New surveys peer through dust to reveal giant supermassive black holesfrom Science DailyMon, 8 Oct 2012, 14:01:06 UTC
- Star discovered near black hole at center of Milky Wayfrom LA Times - ScienceSat, 6 Oct 2012, 5:03:30 UTC
- NASA satellite sees new black holefrom UPISat, 6 Oct 2012, 5:01:50 UTC
- NASA satellite sees new black holefrom UPISat, 6 Oct 2012, 0:00:26 UTC
- NASA's Swift satellite discovers a new black hole in Milky Way galaxyfrom Science DailyFri, 5 Oct 2012, 21:00:28 UTC
- X-ray Black Hole Revealed By Stealthy Nova Star | Videofrom Space.comFri, 5 Oct 2012, 20:00:53 UTC
- Astronomers discover a new black hole in our galaxyfrom PhysorgFri, 5 Oct 2012, 19:30:30 UTC
- Star could provide cosmic insightsfrom UPIFri, 5 Oct 2012, 0:30:37 UTC
- Speedy Star Swoops In Perilously Close to Milky Way's Giant Black Holefrom Live ScienceThu, 4 Oct 2012, 23:30:41 UTC
- Star could provide cosmic insightsfrom UPIThu, 4 Oct 2012, 23:00:25 UTC
- Speedy Star Found Near Black Hole May Test Einstein Theoryfrom National GeographicThu, 4 Oct 2012, 22:30:23 UTC
- Superfast star spotted orbiting Milky Way’s black holefrom Sciencenews.orgThu, 4 Oct 2012, 19:31:03 UTC
- Star discovered racing around black hole at center of our galaxy: Crucial to revealing fabric of space and timefrom Science DailyThu, 4 Oct 2012, 19:00:54 UTC
- Star seen whizzing around supermassive black holefrom Physics WorldThu, 4 Oct 2012, 18:31:16 UTC
- TMT Will Take Discoveries of Stars Orbiting the Milky Way's Monster Black Hole to the Next Levelfrom Newswise - ScinewsThu, 4 Oct 2012, 18:30:44 UTC
- Speedy Star Swoops In Perilously Close to Milky Way's Giant Black Holefrom Space.comThu, 4 Oct 2012, 18:30:31 UTC
- Astronomers discover star racing around black hole at Milky Way centerfrom PhysorgThu, 4 Oct 2012, 18:00:48 UTC
- Pair of Black Holes in Star Cluster Surprises Scientistsfrom Live ScienceThu, 4 Oct 2012, 17:00:56 UTC
- Star cluster supports pair of black holesfrom Science BlogThu, 4 Oct 2012, 14:00:56 UTC
- Early Galaxies and Black Holes Grew Up Togetherfrom Live ScienceThu, 4 Oct 2012, 11:00:31 UTC
- Two black holes discoveredfrom Science AlertThu, 4 Oct 2012, 1:30:17 UTC
- Twin black holes puzzle astronomersfrom UPIWed, 3 Oct 2012, 22:30:24 UTC
- Twin black holes puzzle astronomersfrom UPIWed, 3 Oct 2012, 22:00:25 UTC
- Pair of Black Holes in Star Cluster Surprises Scientistsfrom Space.comWed, 3 Oct 2012, 18:30:30 UTC
- Black hole surprise in ancient star clusterfrom Science DailyWed, 3 Oct 2012, 18:01:19 UTC
- Surprising black hole discovery changes picture of globular star clustersfrom Science DailyWed, 3 Oct 2012, 18:01:17 UTC
- Cluster Coexistence: Neighboring Black Holes Defy Predictions of Violent Interactionsfrom Scientific AmericanWed, 3 Oct 2012, 18:00:42 UTC
- Two Black Holes Inhabit Same Star Clusterfrom Science NOWWed, 3 Oct 2012, 17:40:16 UTC
- Early Galaxies and Black Holes Grew Up Togetherfrom Space.comWed, 3 Oct 2012, 17:30:44 UTC
- Surprising black-hole discovery changes picture of globular star clustersfrom PhysorgWed, 3 Oct 2012, 17:02:03 UTC
- New 3D map of massive galaxies and black holes offers clues to dark matter, dark energyfrom PhysorgWed, 3 Oct 2012, 13:02:03 UTC
- ‘Point of no return’ foundfrom Harvard ScienceTue, 2 Oct 2012, 11:20:22 UTC
- Mouth of Giant Black Hole Measured for First Timefrom Live ScienceSun, 30 Sep 2012, 23:30:20 UTC
- Source of Monster Black Hole's Energy Jet Identifiedfrom Live ScienceSun, 30 Sep 2012, 21:30:20 UTC
- Off-Peek: Radio Telescopes Edge In on Plasma Jet Spewing from Massive Black Holefrom Scientific AmericanFri, 28 Sep 2012, 15:50:17 UTC
- Mouth of giant black hole measured for first timefrom CBSNews - ScienceFri, 28 Sep 2012, 15:30:19 UTC
- Origins of galactic jet seen for the first timefrom Physics WorldFri, 28 Sep 2012, 4:20:21 UTC
- Measuring the universe’s ‘exit door’from MIT ResearchThu, 27 Sep 2012, 22:30:28 UTC
- Mouth of Giant Black Hole Measured for First Timefrom Space.comThu, 27 Sep 2012, 22:00:36 UTC
- World's first glimpse of a black hole 'launchpad'from Science DailyThu, 27 Sep 2012, 21:00:30 UTC
- World’s First Glimpse of Black Hole Launchpadfrom Science BlogThu, 27 Sep 2012, 20:00:48 UTC
- Simulations uncover 'flashy' secrets of merging black holesfrom Science DailyThu, 27 Sep 2012, 20:00:33 UTC
- A Spinning Black Hole at a Galaxy's Centerfrom Science NOWThu, 27 Sep 2012, 20:00:30 UTC
- For the first time, astronomers have measured the radius of a black holefrom PhysorgThu, 27 Sep 2012, 19:31:59 UTC
- World's First Glimpse of a Black Hole "Launchpad"from Newswise - ScinewsThu, 27 Sep 2012, 19:31:53 UTC
- Super-sized Black Hole 'Tornado' Simulated by Computer | Videofrom Space.comThu, 27 Sep 2012, 19:31:33 UTC
- Peering to the edge of a black holefrom Science DailyThu, 27 Sep 2012, 19:30:44 UTC
- Measuring the universe’s 'exit door': For the first time, an international team has measured the radius of a black holefrom Science DailyThu, 27 Sep 2012, 19:30:43 UTC
- Closest look yet at a distant black holefrom News @ NatureThu, 27 Sep 2012, 19:00:47 UTC
- Source of Monster Black Hole's Energy Jet Identifiedfrom Space.comThu, 27 Sep 2012, 18:31:16 UTC