Hole wake

April 21, 2023 1:18 PM

Astronomers think they’ve discovered a black hole some 20 million times the mass of the Sun speeding away from the core of a distant galaxy. And as the supermassive black hole barrels through intergalactic space, it’s compressing the scant gas and dust available out there, leaving behind a thin line of newly formed stars that's some 200,000 light-years long.
posted by Mitheral (34 comments total)

Cmere ya bastard
posted by The otter lady at 1:23 PM on April 21, 2023 [2 favorites]

NBCTheMoreYouKnow.gif
posted by hippybear at 1:28 PM on April 21, 2023 [15 favorites]

Extreme throuple failure.
posted by seanmpuckett at 1:29 PM on April 21, 2023 [3 favorites]

Two important questions: Why is it gobbling up communications satellites and who is this who fell out of the sky into the roof of my cab?
posted by interogative mood at 1:32 PM on April 21, 2023 [14 favorites]

The numbers, the scale of the forces involved here, are staggering.

We are so small.
posted by mhoye at 1:34 PM on April 21, 2023 [15 favorites]

And to think that in that wake of stars, some produce solar systems with planets with intelligent life, and when they look at the night sky they see, what? A few stars? None at all? Until they build telescopes that can detect the far off galaxies--not to mention the black hole racing away from them--and then things really get interesting for them.

"Guys, space isn't actually empty after all..."
posted by zardoz at 1:57 PM on April 21, 2023 [9 favorites]

Well, I believe quite a few things we see here as "stars" are actually galaxies far, far away. So likely they would have a couple of seasons a year with more stars in the sky as they pass through the line of stars, but the rest of the year the sky wouldn't be empty.

I wonder if at some point this line starts to find a center and rotate and this is how we get spiral arm galaxies.
posted by hippybear at 2:01 PM on April 21, 2023 [3 favorites]

I believe quite a few things we see here as "stars" are actually galaxies far, far away.

Basically only 4 (not counting the Milky Way itself), plus 3 more possibly visible to experienced astronomers under exceptional conditions.
posted by jedicus at 2:07 PM on April 21, 2023 [6 favorites]

GET IT!
posted by clavdivs at 2:09 PM on April 21, 2023

" ..."

That's all I've got. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to go lay down.
posted by BigHeartedGuy at 2:27 PM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

I always find it somehow reassuring to discover the universe is even more vast than previously known. Less chance I'll die of boredom, I guess.
posted by philip-random at 2:34 PM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

when they look at the night sky they see, what?

Against a Dark Background
posted by aramaic at 2:44 PM on April 21, 2023 [2 favorites]

Previously, albeit at the end of a long post.
posted by doctornemo at 2:51 PM on April 21, 2023

Planet Caravan. Dude.
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 3:33 PM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

This puts my morning walk into perspective.
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:45 PM on April 21, 2023 [6 favorites]

But just enough perspective... not Total Perspective Vortex levels of perspective.
posted by hippybear at 3:46 PM on April 21, 2023 [7 favorites]

I am a black hole shitting out stars, get at me.
posted by rhizome at 3:48 PM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

Are we inside a black/white hole, time permitting?
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 3:56 PM on April 21, 2023 [2 favorites]

. . . . (*)
posted by nickmark at 3:56 PM on April 21, 2023

Some sort of cosmic-scale resemblance of a cloud chamber.

As above, so below.
posted by tclark at 4:07 PM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

And to think that in that wake of stars, some produce solar systems with planets with intelligent life, and when they look at the night sky they see, what? A few stars? None at all? Until they build telescopes that can detect the far off galaxies--not to mention the black hole racing away from them--and then things really get interesting for them.

"It'll have to go."
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:28 PM on April 21, 2023 [12 favorites]

The estimated velocity is 1600 km/s. To put that into perspective, the earth and the sun are traveling at 30 km/s and 220 km/s, respectively. Consider the momentum.
posted by dephlogisticated at 4:58 PM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

If one is into astronomy — and/or black holes — may I recommend Dr Becky Smethurst's YouTube channel.
posted by terrapin at 5:10 PM on April 21, 2023 [5 favorites]

Based on the available evidence, the researchers think this black hole was likely ejected during a complex dance between three supermassive black holes that were involved in a pair of galaxy mergers.

Yes, threesomes demand a lot of communication and listening, otherwise things can go badly. Hopefully this black hole learned a lot from this encounter and will be more successful in the future.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:20 PM on April 21, 2023 [3 favorites]

It just needed some space.
posted by dephlogisticated at 5:28 PM on April 21, 2023 [7 favorites]

The numbers, the scale of the forces involved here, are staggering.

We are so small.

When I read stories like this about galaxy-level events spanning eons, I can't help but wonder at what point we would actually start to experience these things at the individual level, and if there is some crucial threshold that some direct effects would be perceived by human beings. Hell, even on the level of geological time, like the separation of Earth's landmasses to their current positions. What would scale of effects be on a theoretical observer if this black hole were to come straight towards us, or once our galaxy starts to collide with another, or the sun expands into a red dwarf?
posted by Saxon Kane at 5:46 PM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

Hippy Bear's comment struck a note with me. Maybe this is the first step in making galaxies, the black hole slows, starts a rotation, curling that line of stars around it like a cat's tail, but infinitely longer. Maybe the black hole rotates back along the line of stars, like a yo yo. It is a big event.
posted by Oyéah at 5:57 PM on April 21, 2023

I got this "video game", Universe Sandbox because my five year old is very interested in planets, stars, black holes, etc. He doesn't understand a whole lot but more than you'd think and he keeps asking questions. I figured this would be a good way for him to see the solar system and galaxies in 3D and in motion. It can also be very calming and peaceful to watch. Highly recommended.

For a while he was very concerned about what will happen to Earth when the Sun turns into a red giant AND about the continuing collision of the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies but now he better understand just how far into the future that really is.

We like to screw around with the simulations so I put a dozen or so different sizes and types of galaxies around and let it go. A handful or so of the black holes at the centers ended up getting shot out into space like a bullet. That's compared against a bunch of VERY massive objects already going insanely fast. And sometimes they'll pull along a some dust, gas, and stars. I don't think I've seen stars form in it's wake though, it's not a perfect simulation.

But it's SO FREAKING COOL that there's an actual example of something I've simulated with my kid!

Also a fun fact, black holes all start from massive rotating bodies. So it's like a figure skater pulling in their arms in a spin except it's a HUGE star pulling into a singularity. So they spin....fast.
posted by VTX at 6:27 PM on April 21, 2023 [6 favorites]

Yes, it has given me many sci-fi worldbuilding vibes...

"A sting of young stars, full of possibilities..."
posted by Windopaene at 6:37 PM on April 21, 2023

I just want to see it crash into a similar object moving as fast in the other direction.

We may not be able to comprehend all of the Universe’s majesty. But we do like a bit of the old smash time boom boom.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 6:44 PM on April 21, 2023 [3 favorites]

Is that what you kiwi's call it?

Oh my
posted by Windopaene at 6:46 PM on April 21, 2023 [6 favorites]

when they look at the night sky they see, what? A few stars? None at all?

The oldest stars, those most likely to have had time to spawn life, are closest to the origin galax(y/ies) would still be able to see that; at least for half a year if their solar system is edge on to it and more the more tilted they are to that reference. That galaxy gets dimmer the farther you move along the line.
posted by Mitheral at 7:27 PM on April 21, 2023

I just want to see it crash into a similar object moving as fast in the other direction

Ask ye shall receive.
posted by clavdivs at 7:32 PM on April 21, 2023 [2 favorites]

Two important questions: Why is it gobbling up communications satellites and who is this who fell out of the sky into the roof of my cab?

Hahahaha. I just rewatched this yesterday.
posted by brundlefly at 2:16 AM on April 22, 2023 [1 favorite]