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Similar states of activity identified in supermassive and stellar mass black holes

The study reveals that supermassive black holes exhibit accretion states similar to those seen in stellar mass black holes, with properties including thermal emission by the plasma disc and intense radio emission. This new understanding helps clarify the activity cycles of supermassive black holes in galaxy centers.

SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMay 26, 2021
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Minor merger kicks supermassive black hole into high gear

A team of researchers used the Subaru Telescope to study Messier 77, revealing evidence of a hidden minor merger billions of years ago. The discovery provides crucial evidence for the minor merger origin of active galactic nuclei and sheds light on the mysterious phenomenon.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Japan·DateOct 30, 2017

Hubble eyes a powerful galaxy with a password name

The Hubble Space Telescope has imaged a powerful Seyfert galaxy, 2XMM J143450.5+033843, emitting huge amounts of radiation due to its supermassive black hole. The galaxy is nearly 400 million light-years away and is one of the unlucky ones with a unique X-ray name.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJun 30, 2017

Hubble spies a spiral snowflake

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured a striking image of the spiral galaxy NGC 6814, showcasing its luminous nucleus and sweeping arms. The galaxy's extremely bright center is believed to host a supermassive black hole with a mass about 18 million times that of the sun.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateMay 13, 2016

NASA's Fermi finds gamma-ray galaxy surprises

The NASA Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has discovered a third class of active galaxies that emit gamma rays, opening a new window in the field. The telescope has detected gamma rays from dozens of galaxies beyond our own, including Seyfert galaxies and blazars.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJul 14, 2009
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Radio telescopes reveal unseen galactic cannibalism

Researchers have used radio telescopes to study the behavior of Seyfert galaxies, revealing that the majority of them are being consumed by black holes due to interactions with neighboring galaxies. This discovery provides strong evidence for the role of galactic cannibalism in powering these galaxies.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·DateJun 23, 2008

Intergalactic 'pipeline' funnels matter between colliding galaxies

Astronomers have captured the clearest view of a galaxy pipeline, where material flows between two compact galaxies after a collision. The pipeline, stretching 20,000 light-years, is believed to contribute to a lack of star birth in NGC 1409, as gas flows in is too hot to form stars.

SourceSpace Telescope Science Institute·DateJan 8, 2001

High rate of star births linked to supermassive black holes

New analysis of astronomical data suggests that galaxies with rapid rates of star formation are linked to active supermassive black holes. The study found evidence that starbursts, regions of frequent and rapid star formation, may be obscuring the central black holes' emissions in some Seyfert galaxies.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·DateNov 5, 2000

Astronomers Find Spiral Dust Lanes Fueling Black Holes

Researchers use Hubble Space Telescope to track dense dust and gas in central regions of Seyfert galaxies, finding spiral arms that extend from the nucleus to the rest of the galaxy. This discovery suggests an alternative to stellar bar-driven fueling, requiring further theoretical modeling to fully understand the mechanism.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·DateJan 9, 1998
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Power Source Hidden In Galaxy Backs Theory On Quasars

Researchers have discovered a powerful energy source inside the nucleus of a Seyfert galaxy, challenging previous theories and providing new insights into the formation of galaxies. The findings suggest that both types of Seyfert galaxies may harbor quasars, with the power source located behind an obscuring 'fat torus' or doughnut girdle.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·DateJan 13, 1997