Until now we have seen the collision of black holes and neutron stars of relatively low mass, but if a study recently published in Astronomy & Astrophysics he is right, in a few years we could witness a clash like we have never seen, that of two supermassive black holes.
The two black holes are at the center of the galaxy J1430+2303, and their combined mass is 200 million times greater than that of our Sun. It is a mass 45 times greater than that of Sagitarius A, the supermassive black hole that we have in the center of our galaxy.
High-energy particle emissions at the center of J1430+2303 have convinced astronomers that the collision is imminent in astronomical terms. If it is indeed confirmed, it could happen sometime in the next three years. “A careful examination of the light curves performed with the instruments of the Zwicky Transient Facility or ZTF (located at the Mount Palomar Observatory, in California), indicate a unique pattern of flares with a decaying period that has passed from one year to only three months at the end of 2021″, explain the authors of the study. “The flares seem to come from plasma emissions that are launched from the accretion disk when it intersects with a second accretion disk. The trajectory calculated in the mathematical model predicts that the pair could merge within three years, which is a very exciting opportunity”, they conclude.
The reason for so many “mights” is that astronomers aren’t even sure if there are two supermassive black holes at the center of J1430+2303. The calculations, of course, indicate this, and the observed phenomena only fit that possibility. However, the galaxy is so far away (1,110 million light years), that a direct observation with enough sharpness to verify it is impossible. The observations on J1430+2303 continue, and it is very possible that in a few months we will have more data on this titanic cosmic collision[[Astronomy & Astrophysics via IFL Science]