28-billion-solar-mass pair of supermassive black holes discovered in galaxy B2 0402+379.

Astronomers have discovered the heaviest pair of supermassive black holes ever recorded, with a combined mass of 28 billion times that of the Sun, in the galaxy B2 0402+379. The black holes, stalled 24 light-years apart for over three billion years, provide insight into the formation of binary systems and support the theory that mass plays a key role in stalling potential mergers.

March 01, 2024
5 Articles