Scientists try to observe the 2nd largest black hole near Earth

In a new study published in the scientific journal Astrophysical Journal Letters Two astrophysicists suggest that there is a way to observe. black hole supermassive Leo IBesides being Second closest supermassive black hole to EarthThe astronomical object is three million times larger than the Sun – it is located in the dwarf galaxy of the same name, Leo I.

According to the scientific findings of two Harvard professors of astrophysics, Avi Loeb and Fabio Pacucci, there is a new way to observe a supermassive black hole. Initially, the existence of Leo I was suggested by independent astronomers in research submitted in late 2021.

Scientists suggest it is possible to observe through stars orbiting the supermassive black hole. They explain that since the black hole is able to pull some of this mass towards the event horizon, the mass of red giant stars can help detect the object.

“Light rays [do buraco negro] they can’t escape their event horizon, but the environment around them can be extremely bright – if enough material falls into their gravity wells. “But if a black hole isn’t accumulating mass, it won’t emit light instead, making it impossible to find with our telescopes,” he said.

Supermassive black hole: Leo I

Observing Leo I could be groundbreaking for science, as detailed by Avi Loeb. largest galaxies host supermassive black holes However, he explains that the second-closest black hole to Earth is housed in a galaxy with a mass a thousand times less than the Milky Way.

Loeb said, “This fact challenges everything we know about how galaxies and central supermassive black holes co-evolved. How did such a big baby come from a skinny father?” says.

The researcher also says that he expected a much smaller black hole, considering everything he already knew about these objects, but Leo I has a massive mass. Pacucci claims that the supermassive black hole “plays hide and seek”, but that its radiation won’t keep it invisible for long.