Cosmic explosion: huge black hole influences star formation!

Cosmic explosion: huge black hole influences star formation!

In the distant universe there are always surprises to discover. Astronomers report a super massive black hole called PG1211+143, which is hidden in a Seyfert galaxy center, which is 1.2 billion light years away. With a mass of around 40 million solar masses, this fascinating object has a quasar under its influence. For the examination, the XMM-Newton telescope of the European Space Organization was used, which observed the material inflow of this black hole over a period of five weeks, which adds up to the weight of ten earths.

But PG1211+143 does not behave like any other black hole. It cannot absorb all the material absorbed and releases excess mass in the form of strong cosmic winds. These winds reach speeds of around 0.27 speed of light, which corresponds to 290 million kilometers per hour and is therefore 160,000 times faster than an F-16 jet. These extreme winds are not only impressive, but also affect the dynamics of the surrounding galaxy - they heat the gases back to millions of degrees and push the cold, dense gas that is necessary for the star formation.

Influence on star development

These effective winds mean that the formation of new stars either slowed down or even completely prevented, which influences the development of the galaxy. The simultaneous observation of the material inflow and the output winds offers new insights into the growth of super massive black holes and their role in galaxy development. The study, which summarizes these fascinating results, was in the Monthly notices of the royal Astronomical Society published.

But PG1211+143 is not the only almost similar object in the universe. In the surrounding area, astronomers have also discovered the super massive black hole in the center of Markarian 817. This galaxy, which is located in the Draco constellation and is about 430 million light years away from us, also has similarly strong winds. Despite a lesser accretion rate, the observations show that ultrarapide winds may occur more often than before - an exciting discovery that questions the previous assumptions.

history and fascination of black holes

The fascination for black holes is not new. As early as November 1783, Lord Henry Cavendish discussed Reverend John Mitchell on the gravitational force of objects that are so strong that even light cannot escape. Based on classic Newton’s gravitational physics, researchers found that a mass of at least hundred million times the sun is necessary for such an object. With Einstein's general theory of relativity, which describes such objects extensively, the modernity has gained a deeper insight into the mysterious world of black holes.

Through intensive observations and the analysis of the matter that condenses in accretion panes around these masses, scientists have deciphered the basic mechanisms that control the behavior of these incredibly strong objects. Most galaxies, as well as our Milky Way, seem to accommodate a central black hole - a fact that shows us how closely the fate of galaxies and black holes is interwoven.

Continuous research on the development and distribution of black holes is essential to better understand the role of these mysterious objects in our universe. The search for secrets that are hidden inside these massive gravitational traps remains one of the most exciting challenges in modern astrophysics.