Tag

Active Galactic Nuclei

All articles tagged with #active galactic nuclei

space27 days ago•96 min saved

Planets Could Form in Turbulent Edges of Active Galactic Nuclei

New simulations suggest the outer edges of gas-rich accretion disks around active supermassive black holes could resemble planet-forming disks, allowing dust to clump via streaming instability and form millions of Jupiter-mass planets tens of parsecs (a few tens of light-years) from the black hole; these planets would likely migrate outward, and gravitational lensing could help detect them, though observations are still in early stages.

via Space|

#accretion-disks #active-galactic-nuclei #exoplanets

astronomy3 months ago•6 min saved

Webb reveals transitional 'Stingray' galaxy linking little red dots to AGN

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have identified a compact galaxy nicknamed the 'stingray' that sits at a crossroads between the mysterious little red dots and compact Type I AGN. The system, which appears distorted due to interaction with a nearby companion, shows signs of accelerated growth and supports the idea that little red dots are short-lived evolutionary phases rather than a distinct galaxy class. While this transitional object strengthens the link between LRDs and AGN, questions about the central black hole mass and the broader implications for galaxy formation remain, underscoring JWST’s power to illuminate early-universe dynamics.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#active-galactic-nuclei #astronomy #galaxy-evolution

science5 months ago•3 min saved

Tiny Galaxies, Bigger Black Holes: New Census Boosts Dwarf-Galaxy AGN Presence

A comprehensive census of over 8,000 nearby galaxies finds that active galactic nuclei are more common in dwarf galaxies than previously thought—roughly 2–5%—though far less than in mid-sized or large galaxies, suggesting a mass-dependent increase in AGN activity and underscoring the need for improved detection of faint black holes.

via Universe Today|

#active-galactic-nuclei #astronomy #black-holes

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Astronomers Discover 'Cosmic Owl' Galaxy Merger

Astronomers have discovered a unique galaxy merger called the Cosmic Owl, consisting of two nearly identical collisional ring galaxies with active nuclei and starburst activity, providing insights into galaxy evolution and black hole growth in the early universe.

via Phys.org|

#active-galactic-nuclei #collisional-ring-galaxies #cosmic-owl

science1 year ago•6 min saved

New Study Reveals Surprising Behavior of Black Holes

A study using the Event Horizon Telescope reveals that black hole jets are more complex than previously thought, showing signs of acceleration and brightness increases that challenge traditional models, with future research aiming to uncover the underlying mechanisms.

via The Brighter Side of News|

#active-galactic-nuclei #astronomy #black-holes

astronomy2 years ago•2 min saved

"Groundbreaking: Unveiling Dozens of Massive Radio Galaxies for the FIRST Time"

Astronomers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison have discovered 63 new giant radio galaxies (GRGs) using the Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty cm survey (FIRST). GRGs are rare objects with a projected linear length exceeding 2.3 million light years and are important for studying the formation and evolution of radio sources. The researchers utilized the DRAGNhunter algorithm to identify double-lobed radio galaxies in the FIRST data and found the newfound GRGs at redshifts between 0.51 and 1.32. Further studies are needed to understand the properties of these GRGs.

via Phys.org|

#active-galactic-nuclei #astronomers #astronomy

science-and-astronomy2 years ago•5 min saved

"Supermassive black holes: Recycling champions with messy eating habits"

Astronomers have observed the feeding habits of a supermassive black hole in the active heart of a distant galaxy and discovered that it recycles material. The black hole consumes only around 3% of the matter flowing towards it, while the rest is pushed away by the energy of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) but eventually falls back to the black hole. This recycling process has been observed in the Circinus Galaxy, located 13 million light-years away from Earth, and could help scientists better understand how supermassive black holes grow.

via Space.com|

#accretion-disks #active-galactic-nuclei #alma

astronomy2 years ago•6 min saved

Supermassive Black Holes Shape Galaxy Chemistry

New research using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) provides strong evidence that supermassive black holes (SMBHs) alter the chemistry of their host galaxies. The study focused on the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1068 and mapped the distribution of 23 different molecules using ALMA. The researchers found different chemical distributions in the circumnuclear disk (CND) and the starburst ring (SBR) of NGC 1068, indicating the influence of SMBHs on the presence and abundance of chemicals. The study also detected unexpected concentrations of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in the CND, possibly due to strong shocks, and observed the first detection of silicon monoxide (SiO) in NGC 1068. These findings shed light on the complex interactions between SMBHs and their host galaxies.

via Universe Today|

#active-galactic-nuclei #astronomy #atacama-large-millimetersubmillimeter-array-alma

astronomy2 years ago•5 min saved

Unveiling the Edge of a Supermassive Black Hole's Accretion Disk

Astronomers have observed the outer edge of a feeding supermassive black hole's accretion disk for the first time, providing valuable insights into the structure and behavior of these cosmic phenomena. By studying the emission lines in the spectrum of light from the accretion disk, researchers were able to determine its size and estimate the mass of the black hole. The observations could help scientists better understand how black holes feed and how this process influences the evolution of galaxies. The research was published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

via Space.com|

#accretion-disk #active-galactic-nuclei #astronomy

astronomy2 years ago•5 min saved

"Unveiling the Cosmic Connection: Evidence of Supermassive Binary Systems in Active Galactic Nuclei"

An international research team has presented evidence that the variability in brightness and jet curvature observed in blazars, accreting supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxies, is likely caused by the precession of the jet source. This precession can be attributed to the presence of a second massive black hole or a warped accretion disk. The study suggests that blazar variability may be of deterministic nature rather than stochastic, and the jet curvature could be a signature of binary black holes. Radio observations using Very Long Baseline Radio Interferometry (VLBI) provide the highest resolution for studying these phenomena.

via Phys.org|

#active-galactic-nuclei #astronomy #binary-black-holes

astronomy2 years ago•2 min saved

"Surprising Findings: Webb Telescope Challenges Existence of Supermassive Black Holes"

Data from the Webb Space Telescope's Mid-Infrared Instrument suggests that supermassive black holes may be growing at a slower pace than previously believed. Researchers studying the Extended Groth Strip observed fewer growing supermassive black holes and less dust than expected, indicating that these black holes may not be significantly impacting their host galaxies. The findings provide a new perspective on black hole growth and challenge current understanding, which is largely based on the most massive black holes in the biggest galaxies.

via Gizmodo|

#active-galactic-nuclei #astronomy #extended-groth-strip

astronomy2 years ago•2 min saved

"Surprising Findings: Webb Telescope Challenges Existence of Supermassive Black Holes"

Data from the Webb Space Telescope's Mid-Infrared Instrument suggests that there may be fewer growing supermassive black holes and less dust than expected in the Extended Groth Strip, a region of space between Ursa Major and Boötes. The observations were made as part of the Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science program, which investigates the early galaxies and conditions for star and black hole growth. The findings suggest that these black holes may not be growing rapidly or significantly impacting their host galaxies, challenging current understanding. The Webb telescope, launched in 2021, is expected to provide more insights into galactic evolution and supermassive black holes.

via Yahoo News|

#active-galactic-nuclei #astronomy #cosmic-evolution-early-release-science

astronomy2 years ago•4 min saved

"James Webb Space Telescope Challenges Assumptions: Fewer Active Supermassive Black Holes Found"

A survey conducted with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has revealed that active galactic nuclei (AGN), which are rapidly growing supermassive black holes, are rarer than previously assumed. The survey focused on a region of the cosmos known as the Extended Groth Strip and found fewer AGN than expected, suggesting that the universe may be more stable than thought. The study also provided insights into faint galaxies and their properties, as well as the challenges in identifying AGN. The findings prompt questions about the growth and impact of supermassive black holes on their host galaxies, including the Milky Way.

via Phys.org|

#active-galactic-nuclei #astronomy #cosmic-evolution

astronomy3 years ago•4 min saved

Unraveling the Galactic Impact of UFOs: Ultra-Fast Space Winds

An international research team has discovered ultra-fast outflows (UFOs) known as space winds that emerge from the surroundings of supermassive black holes and travel at speeds close to that of light. The SUBWAYS project analyzed 22 active galactic nuclei (AGN) and found that approximately 30% of them exhibited space winds traveling at speeds between 10% and 30% of the speed of light. These findings provide new insights into the role of UFOs in shaping the evolution of galaxies and their ecosystems.

via SciTechDaily|

#active-galactic-nuclei #astronomy #space-winds

astronomy3 years ago•3 min saved

"Surprising Brightness: Most Distant Active Black Hole 'Switches On' in Record-breaking Event"

Astronomers have observed a supermassive black hole, known as J221951, undergoing a dramatic "switching on" event, resulting in one of the brightest transient events ever recorded. The cause of this event is still unknown, but it could be due to the black hole consuming a star that ventured too close and being torn apart in a process called spaghettification. Another possibility is that the black hole is transitioning from a dormant to an active state, known as an active galactic nucleus. Further monitoring is needed to determine the exact cause of this event.

via Space.com|

#active-galactic-nuclei #astronomy #black-hole