Black Holes are the most intriguing objects in space. The massive dead stars with intense gravitational force, gobbling every object that comes on its path. Detecting it would help in revealing new information about not only itself, but also will aid in testing the great theories of Physics. This is what scientists are expecting to achieve after the biggest known black hole with a mass of 18 billion Suns has been discovered.
We are at a safe distance from the giant at 3.5 billion light years away from it. It is situated at the heart of a quasar QJ287 - this intergalactic source of high-energy electromagnetic radiation is the aid to scientists to help measure the black hole. In fact, there is not a single black hole, but there are two giants — with the smaller one weighing 100 million Suns, orbiting around the larger one.
Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity can be verified from the new discovery. It is difficult to measure the dimensions of the black hole, and scientists have to rely on the surrounding electromagnetic radiations and the speed of gas clouds to come to any deductions.
The recent discovery will help in testing the theory that black holes could spiral towards each other as they radiate energy in the form of giant gravitational waves. Sometime in the next 100,000 earth years, the two black holes may merge into one another, scientists believe!
Source: new scientist
