Black Hole Disk Flare in Galaxy OJ 287

04.28.20

This artwork shows two massive black holes in the OJ 287 galaxy. The smaller black hole orbits the larger one, which remains stationary and is surrounded by a disk of gas. When the smaller black hole crashes through the disk, it produces a flare brighter than 1 trillion stars. But the smaller black hole's orbit is elongated and moving relative to the disk, causing the flares to occur irregularly.

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	News Release Spitzer Telescope Reveals the Precise Timing of a Black Hole Dance ssc2020-11
	Image Black Hole Disk Flare in Galaxy OJ 287 ssc2020-11a
	Image Sizes of Black Holes in Galaxy OJ 287 Relative to the Solar System ssc2020-11b
	Video Animation of Orbiting Black Holes in Galaxy OJ 287 ssc2020-11v1
	Video Simulation of Black Hole Disk Flares in Galaxy OJ 287 ssc2020-11v2

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Black Hole Disk Flare in Galaxy OJ 287

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