Astronomers Unveil First Triple Black Hole System in Milky Way

The discovery of V404 Cygni challenges traditional black hole formation theories by suggesting a calm 'direct collapse' process.

V404 Cygni, located 8,000 light-years away, features a black hole with two orbiting stars, marking the first-known black hole triple system.
The outer star's distant orbit of 70,000 years indicates a weak gravitational bond, suggesting an unusual formation process.
Researchers propose 'direct collapse' as the formation method, where a star implodes quietly, avoiding the violent supernova explosion.
Simulations and data from the Gaia satellite confirm the coordinated movement of the stars, with a one-in-10-million chance of being unrelated.
The system's age is estimated at four billion years, providing insights into black hole evolution and potential for discovering more such systems.