Three active black holes found in one ancient galaxy
Astronomers observe a rare alignment more than 12.5 billion light-years away.
Listen to this article
There is no audio version yet. Request one and an AI voice will read the article aloud.
Read by an AI voice.
Astronomers have found three actively growing supermassive black holes in a single very distant galaxy. The observation gives researchers a view of an exceptional environment in the young Universe, but the system’s precise development is still under investigation.
The galaxy lies more than 12.5 billion light-years from Earth. Because light takes time to reach us, astronomers see the system as it appeared during an early stage of the Universe.
According to the research summary, two of the black holes are about 620 light-years apart. A third black hole lies farther away in the same galaxy. At least one of the objects has a mass roughly 80 million times that of the Sun.
The black holes are active because they attract matter from their surroundings. This produces radiation that telescopes can detect. According to the researchers, the combination of their distance, proximity to one another and simultaneous activity makes the observation unusual.
The research comes from astronomers associated with the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching. The discovery could help address questions about how supermassive black holes and their host galaxies grew during the first billions of years of the Universe.
The finding is an astronomical observation, not evidence that the three objects will soon merge. According to the summary, the researchers expect two of the black holes eventually to be able to merge, but whether and when this happens is not certain. Further observations could help establish their masses, orbits and surroundings more precisely.
Also show where in Europe and in the world
Fact-check Approved with corrections · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The factual core can be found in the recent research announcement, but independent confirmation was limited. The text is therefore cautious about future mergers and the wider significance.
- confirmed Three actively growing supermassive black holes are located in one galaxy more than 12.5 billion light-years away. — Stated in the Max Planck Institute summary. source
- confirmed Two black holes are about 620 light-years apart. — Mentioned in the research announcement. source
- confirmed One of the black holes has a mass of roughly 80 million solar masses. — Mentioned in the source. source
- uncertain The two black holes that are closest to each other will eventually merge. — The source describes this as an expectation; the article therefore says that a merger is considered possible. source
1 correction(s) applied
- Was: The two black holes that are closest to each other will eventually merge.Now: The researchers expect the two black holes that are closest to each other eventually to be able to merge. (The source describes this as an expectation, not an established fact.)
Editor's note
The discovery is based on a recent research announcement. The open source consulted provided no second independent news source; the wording has therefore been kept cautious.Sources
- Three giant black holes discovered in a galaxy from the dawn of time — ScienceDaily, op basis van Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „zwarte gaten”
- NOS — „zwarte gaten”
- Het Parool — „zwarte gaten”