Daily Archives: July 7, 2014

J1502+1115: A Triple Black Hole Galaxy 

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Image Credit: R. P. Deane (U. Capetown) et al.

 Most galaxies contain one supermassive black hole – why does this galaxy have three? The likely reason is that galaxy J1502+1115 is the product of the recent coalescence of three smaller galaxies. The two closest black holes are shown above resolved in radio waves by large coordinated array of antennas spread out over Europe, Asia, and Africa. These two supermassive black holes imaged are separated by about 500 light years and each has a likely mass about 100 million times the mass of our Sun. Currently, J1502+1115, at a redshift of 0.39, is one of only a few triple black hole system known and is being studied to learn more about galaxy and supermassive black hole interaction rates during the middle ages of our universe. Gravitational radiation emitted by such massive black hole systems may be detectable by future observatories.

APOD NASA 07-Jul-14

Related posts:

  1. The View Near a Black Hole
  2. The Quiet Sagittarius A*
  3. The Cloudy Cores of Active Galaxies
  4. Illustris Simulation of the Universe

Simeis 147: Spaghetti Nebula

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Simeis 147, also known as the Spaghetti Nebula, SNR G180.0-01.7 or Sharpless 2-240, is a supernova remnant (SNR) that may have occurred in the Milky Way, on the constellation borders of Auriga and Taurus. Discovered in 1952 at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory using a 25 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, it is a very difficult object to observe due to its extreme low brightness.

The nebulous area is fairly large with an almost spherical shell and filamentary structure. The remnant has an apparent diameter that covers approximately 3°, an estimated distance of approximately 3000 (±350) ly away and an age of approximately 40,000 y old.

It is believed that after its stellar explosion a rapidly spinning neutron star known as pulsar PSR J0538+2817 was left behind in the nebula core, emitting a strong radio signal.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Pentacon 4/200 MC
Mounts: Konus EQ3.2
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Konus Vista 80/400, 127 ED doublet f/9 (homemade), Konus Super 120/1000
Software: Corel Paint Shop Pro x2, aurigaimaging Registar 1.0
Filters: Lumicon H-alfa
Dates: Sept. 5, 2013
Locations: Albaneta – Pollino, Piano Visitone – Pollino
Frames: 30×2400″
Integration: 20.0 hours

Author: Giuseppe Donatiello
AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI 07 July 2014

Related posts:

  1. Simeis 147 or Spaghetti Nebula (4 panels mosaic)
  2. The Spaghetti Nebula (Simeis 147 / Sh2-240) Hydrongen-alpha
  3. Lagoon Nebula
  4. Supernova remnant – Simeis 147