Astronomers see a black hole awaken in real time
A massive black hole in galaxy SDSS1335+0728 has unexpectedly awakened, transforming it into an active galactic nucleus. This long-lasting event challenges previous astronomical knowledge on galaxy dynamics.
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Astronomers have observed the awakening of a massive black hole in real-time within the previously quiet galaxy SDSS1335+0728. The sudden increase in brightness led researchers to investigate using data from various space and ground-based observatories, including the Very Large Telescope (VLT) of the European Southern Observatory (ESO). Their study, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, reveals unprecedented changes in the galaxy, likely due to the sudden activation of the massive black hole at its center. This event transformed SDSS1335+0728 into an active galactic nucleus (AGN), characterized by intense brightness driven by the massive black hole. Unlike typical events observed before, this phenomenon has persisted for over four years, defying the usual duration of such brightness fluctuations caused by events like supernovae or tidal disruptions of stars. The ongoing brightness increase challenges previous astronomical understanding and highlights the dynamic nature of galaxies hosting supermassive black holes.
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15 comments"In late 2019 the previously unremarkable galaxy SDSS1335+0728 suddenly started shining brighter than ever before. To understand why, astronomers have used data from several space and ground-based observatories, including the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT), to track how the galaxy’s brightness has varied. In a study out today, they conclude that they are witnessing changes never seen before in a galaxy — likely the result of the sudden awakening of the massive black hole at its core."
"Follow-up observations are still needed to rule out alternative explanations. Another possibility is that we are seeing an unusually slow tidal disruption event, or even a new phenomenon"
I have a poor sense of when we’re talking hours, years, decades, millennia, MA, GA. Might make for a really cool static website project.
Same with geologic events, too!
Galaxies of stars are like people traveling through the cosmos together in one group.
Elliptical galaxies have a direction of travel, that is why they are elliptical.
A galaxy gets it first massive supernova, and a black hole is formed, and it becomes a spiral galaxy, kind of like when a seismic social event happens and everyone gets in line.
In all actuality this is really really cool.
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