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8h ago

Astronomers Confirm First Wandering Black Hole Detected by Tidal Disruption Event

Observations of AT2024tvd reveal a one-million-solar-mass black hole 2,600 light-years from its galaxy's center, marking a breakthrough in identifying hidden black hole populations.

Image
Artist's impression of a massive black hole, located in the dark oval at the center of the swirling cloud, accreting mass from a star (orange) that ventured too close. The star feels a gravitational tug from the black hole that is stronger on one side than on the other, which eventually rips the star apart. In the process, stellar material starts flowing onto the black hole, part of which is captured and the rest ejected, producing a sudden boost in luminosity, especially in X-rays.
The tidal disruption event AT2024tvd. Image credit: NASA / CXC / University of California, Berkeley / Yao et al. / ESA / STScI / HST / J. DePasquale.

Overview

  • The tidal disruption event AT2024tvd was observed 2,600 light-years from its host galaxy's nucleus, confirming the presence of a roaming supermassive black hole.
  • Multi-wavelength observations from Hubble, Chandra, and the NRAO Very Large Array established the black hole's mass at one million solar masses, distinct from the 100-million-solar-mass central black hole of the galaxy.
  • This is the first offset tidal disruption event identified among approximately 100 recorded, opening new possibilities for detecting elusive wandering black holes.
  • The event was first detected as a supernova-like flare by the Zwicky Transient Facility, with follow-up imaging pinpointing the black hole's precise location.
  • Theories suggest the black hole may have been displaced by a three-body interaction or is a remnant of a past galaxy merger, though its exact origin remains uncertain.