SaedNews: Scientists have discovered an enormous supermassive black hole with a staggering mass of 36 billion times that of the Sun at the center of the cosmic Horseshoe galaxy system.
According to SaedNews, quoting from KhabarOnline, astronomers had previously discovered the "Cosmic Horseshoe" system, consisting of several galaxies located about 5.5 billion light-years away from Earth, in 2007. These galaxies are positioned relatively close to each other, but what distinguishes them is that the foreground galaxy in this system magnifies and distorts the light of the background galaxy, light that has traveled for billions of years to reach us.
This means that the foreground galaxy acts like a massive cosmic lens, creating what is known as an "Einstein ring." This phenomenon is a highly valuable tool for astronomers because it allows them to observe objects that would otherwise remain hidden from view.
According to Euronews, recent studies have confirmed that the massive foreground galaxy in the Cosmic Horseshoe galaxy system, known as "LRG 3-757," is home to one of the largest black holes in the history of astronomy.
Supermassive Black Holes: A Category Beyond Hypermassive Black Holes Supermassive black holes, which have a mass at least 5 billion times that of the Sun, are classified as supermassive black holes. Researchers at the Grand Doisul Physics Institute in Brazil have explored the relationship between the black hole's mass and the dispersion of star speeds in the galactic bulge.
The larger the mass of the black hole, the more irregular and variable the star speeds at the center of the galaxy. However, the Cosmic Horseshoe's black hole deviates from this pattern, as its mass exceeds expectations.
Why Does This Black Hole Deviate from the Usual Pattern? Researchers have proposed several scenarios to explain this deviation. They suggest that the galaxy hosting the black hole may have previously absorbed other galaxies, expelling many stars from its center during this process.
Another possibility is that as black holes consume material around them, they turn into active galactic nuclei and can change the structure of the galaxy through powerful eruptions.
It is also possible that this black hole is the remnant of a very bright quasar from the early universe that went through periods of rapid growth. Scientists say that the European Space Telescope "Euclid" will discover hundreds of thousands of new gravitational lenses in the next five years, which may deepen our understanding of galaxy evolution.
In addition, the upcoming European Extremely Large Telescope, expected to be operational in about three years, will assist astronomers in studying the detailed movements of stars in giant galaxies.
Are There Bigger Black Holes? Researchers say that this discovery is just the beginning. They hope future projects will provide more answers about these mysterious objects. With advancements in observational technology, there is a high possibility of discovering even larger black holes in the near future—objects that, according to astronomers, could radically change our understanding of the nature of the universe.
