NASA has released a stunning image of three black holes about to collide with each other.<\/p>\n
The ultra-rare is the best evidence yet of a so-called \"triple system\" three active supermassive black holes smashing in to each other.<\/p>\n
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Each of the black holes is at the centre of its own galaxy.<\/p>\n
They're all merging together roughly one billion light years from Earth.<\/p>\n
It's not uncommon to find two black holes joining together, but spotting three is a rare feat.<\/p>\n
In this case, astronomers using Nasa technology spotted the triple system by accident.<\/p>\n
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\"We were only looking for pairs of black holes at the time,\" said Ryan Pfeifle, of George Mason University, who led the study.<\/p>\n
\"And yet, through our selection technique, we stumbled upon this amazing system.<\/p>\n
\"This is the strongest evidence yet found for such a triple system of actively feeding supermassive black holes.\"<\/p>\n
Researchers didn't take a straight photo of the black holes.<\/p>\n
Instead, multiple observations using several different scientific instruments were used to piece together the galactic smash-up.<\/p>\n
New Mexico's Sloan Digital Sky Survey first imaged the system in optical light.<\/p>\n
Then Nasa's Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer spacecraft examined infrared light coming from the system.<\/p>\n
And then researchers used X-ray observations to confirm the presence of gas and dust being consumed.<\/p>\n
That's a sign that black holes are feeding, effectively confirming their existence.<\/p>\n
What is a black hole? The key facts<\/p>\n
Here's what you need to know...<\/p>\n
What is a black hole?<\/p>\n
What is an event horizon?<\/p>\n
What is a singularity?<\/p>\n
How are black holes created?<\/p>\n
\"Through the use of these major observatories, we have identified a new way of identifying triple supermassive black holes,\" explained Pfeifle.<\/p>\n
\"Each telescope gives us a different clue about what's going on in these systems.<\/p>\n
\"We hope to extend our work to find more triples using the same technique.\"<\/p>\n
Each supermassive hole is roughly 10,000 to 30,000 light years apart, which is tiny as far as space goes.<\/p>\n
And their locations mean their eventual merging is inevitable a cataclysmic event that will transform the entire region of space.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, astronomers spotted an \"impossible\" black hole that breaks the \"current theory of our universe\".<\/p>\n
The huge black hole at the centre of our galaxy was caught mysteriously \"glowing\" in an eerie video.<\/p>\n
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And in April, scientists unveiled the first-ever photo of a black hole.<\/p>\n
What do you make of this mind-blowing image? Let us know in the comments!<\/p>\n
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at tech@the-sun.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The rest is here: <\/p>\n Stunning Nasa photo reveals three black holes smashing into each other in rare cataclysmic collision - The Sun<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NASA has released a stunning image of three black holes about to collide with each other. Continue reading