GET GRANTS Astronomers witness supermassive black hole awaken AdminJune 20, 2024027 views (CNN) – Astronomers may be witnessing a supermassive black hole roaring back to life – something that has never been seen before. In late 2019, astronomers noticed a sudden spike in brightness in an otherwise remarkable galaxy located 300 million light years away from Earth. The team then compared archival data from NASA with more recent observations by telescopes. They found the galaxy has grown even brighter, emitting more visible and infrared light in recent years. It even started to emit X-rays beginning in February. The study’s co-author suggests the phenomenon they are witnessing may be a supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy beginning to show activity. It would mark the first time such an event has been observed in real time. The study findings have been accepted for publication in the journal “Astronomy and Astrophysics.” Copyright 2024 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. Source link