Sam Amico
It may not be a huge issue, but you never like the idea of finding a massive black hole. That’s especially the case when it’s facing Earth.
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But that’s what scientists say they have found.
As relayed by the Royal Astronomical Society, scientists say galaxy PBC J2333.9-2343 has been reclassified after they discovered a supermassive black hole. And yes, it just happens to be facing our solar system.
Supermassive Black Hole
“We started to study this galaxy as it showed peculiar properties,” Dr. Lorena Hernández-García said.
“Our hypothesis was that the relativistic jet of its supermassive black hole had changed its direction, and to confirm that idea we had to carry out a lot of observations.
“The fact that we see the nucleus is not feeding the lobes anymore means that they are very old. They are the relics of past activity, whereas the structures located closer to the nucleus represent younger and active jets.”
Scientists also noticed the black hole has rotated 90 degrees recently and is point its center right at us. It is said to be 40 times the size of the Milky Way.
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No one is sure what caused the shift, though scientists think it may have collided with another galaxy, per the New York Post.
Along with this particular black hole, three asteroids have been discovered within the Earth’s solar system. They also could pose a threat to the planet.
“Our twilight survey is scouring the area within the orbits of Earth and Venus for asteroids,” said the paper’s lead author and astronomer Scott Sheppard in a NOIR Lab press release that announced the findings, via the Post. “So far we have found two large near-Earth asteroids that are about 1 kilometer across, a size that we call planet killers.”
