Key Points
The newly discovered system consists of a central black hole consuming a small star in a close 6.5-day orbit, similar to known binary systems...
The newly discovered system consists of a central black hole consuming a small star in a close 6.5-day orbit, similar to known binary systems.. groundbreaking discovery, physicists from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Caltech have observed the first-ever "black hole triple" system, expanding our understanding of black holes and their formation...
"We think most black holes form from violent explosions of stars, but this discovery helps call that into question," says Kevin Burdge, a Pappalardo Fellow at MIT and lead author of the study..
Using the Gaia satellite's precise measurements, the team confirmed that the distant star moves in tandem with the inner binary system, indicating a gravitational connection.. This finding not only provides insights into black hole formation but also helps determine the system's age..
The discovery of this black hole triple opens up new avenues for research and may lead to a reevaluation of our understanding of black hole evolution and the prevalence of such systems in the universe...
