Missing Baryons Found in Far-Out Reaches of Galactic Halos
Berkeley Lab physicists play key role in studies that solve a cosmological mystery
March 16, 2021
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A new study has found that a share of particles that has been challenging to locate is most likely sprinkled across the distant bounds of galaxy halos. The study found some of these particles of baryonic matter are located up to 6 million light-years from their galactic centers. This color-rendered image shows the halo of the Andromeda galaxy, which is the Milky Way’s largest galactic neighbor. (Credit: NASA)
By Glenn Roberts Jr.
Researchers have channeled the universe’s earliest light – a relic of the universe’s formation known as the cosmic microwave background (CMB) – to solve a missing-matter mystery and learn new things about galaxy formation. Their work could also help us to better understand dark energy and test Einstein’s theory of general relativity by providing new details about the rate at
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Supermassive black hole wanders through space
Now astronomers have detected a highly unusual case of one wandering through space.
Astronomers previously believed it was possible for supermassive black holes to be actively on the move, but it has been difficult to gather evidence for that theory - until now.
The study was published on Friday in The Astrophysical Journal.
Dominic Pesce, astronomer at The Centre for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, has worked with collaborating scientists to observe 10 distant galaxies and the supermassive black hole at the centre of each system over the last five years.
The Centre for Astrophysics is a collaborative research effort that combines the Harvard College Observatory and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.
Astronomers amazed to find supermassive black hole wandering aimlessly through space By Sophie Lewis Massive black hole discovered in Milky Way
Astronomers have spotted a black hole on the move.
Supermassive black holes generally stay put as they suck in everything that comes their way, but scientists have long thought it was possible for them to wander through space. They ve just never properly caught one in the act until now.
Researchers and the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian have identified the clearest example yet of a black hole in motion, publishing their findings in The Astrophysical Journal. About 230 million light years away, at the center of a galaxy named J0437+2456, the team found what they were looking for.
Their findings were presented on March 12 in The Astrophysical Journal.
The researchers believe this is the clearest case yet of a supermassive black hole on the move.
And this is no easy task, according to the study s lead author, Dominic Pesce.
He said: We don t expect the majority of the supermassive black holes to be moving; they re usually content to just sit around.
A black hole in a distant galaxy is on the move, astronomers have found (Image: GETTY)
The black hole sits at the centre of the galaxy J0437 2456 (Image: Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS))
READ MORE They re just so heavy that it s tough to get them going.