Elusive Binary Black Hole System Identified

Artist's conception of the binary supermassive black hole system. Each black hole is surrounded by a disk of material gradually spiraling into its grasp, releasing radiation from x-rays to radio waves. The two black holes complete an orbit around their center of mass every 100 years, traveling with a relative velocity of 6000 kilometers per second.

Credit:

P.Marenfeld and NOAO/AURA/NSF

About the Image

Id:noao0901a
Type:Artwork
Release date:March 4, 2009
Related releases:noao0901
Size:1440 x 1200 px

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