Astronomers Spot Galaxy with Three Supermassive Black Holes in Early Universe
On August 12, a study published in Astronomy & Astrophysics revealed that astronomers have identified a galaxy from the early universe containing three supermassive black holes. Utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), researchers examined galaxy J0148-4214, whose light has traveled for 12.5 billion years to reach Earth, indicating it existed just over a billion years following the Big Bang. The team, led by Hannah Übler and Giovanni Mazzolari from the Max Planck Institute, discovered two central black holes, separated by 620 light-years, with masses of 80 million and 0.6 million solar masses, alongside a third black hole located 5,500 light-years away with a mass of two million solar masses. These observations imply that black hole mergers occurred rapidly in the early universe.
Key facts
- First detection of three supermassive black holes in a galaxy in the early universe.
- Galaxy J0148-4214 observed with JWST; light took 12.5 billion years to reach Earth.
- Two central black holes are 620 light-years apart; third is 5,500 light-years away.
- Masses: 80 million, 0.6 million, and 2 million solar masses.
- Smaller central black hole accreting faster than theoretical predictions allow.
- Discovery published in Astronomy & Astrophysics on August 12.
- Research team includes Hannah Übler and Giovanni Mazzolari from Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics.
- Findings suggest black hole mergers were a rapid growth route in early universe.
Entities
Institutions
- Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
- University of Sydney
- University of Colorado Boulder
- James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
- New Scientist
- New York Times
- Astronomy & Astrophysics
Locations
- Germany
- Australia
- United States