Astronomers have unveiled a groundbreaking discovery that challenges long-held beliefs about black hole formation. While it's commonly accepted that black holes arise from the explosive death of massive stars in supernova events, recent observations suggest that some may form through a much gentler process.
The star system in question, located approximately 7,800 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus, features a black hole named V404 Cygni in a rare triple configuration with two ordinary stars. Traditionally, black holes have been observed in binary systems—paired with either another star or black hole. However, this is the first known instance where a black hole is part of a triple system.
V404 Cygni, with a mass estimated to be nine times that of our sun, has been under study since its confirmation in 1992. New data from the European Space Agency's Gaia observatory revealed that it has not just one, but two companion stars. One of these stars, similar in mass to our sun, orbits the black hole every six and a half days at a remarkably close distance—only about one-seventh the distance between the Earth and the sun. The black hole is actively siphoning material from its companion, which has entered the red giant phase of its lifecycle.
The second companion star, about 1.2 times the mass of the sun, orbits far from the duo, taking roughly 70,000 years to complete one orbit. The vast distance between this star and the black hole suggests a unique formation history for the system.
Scientists believe that the gentle birth of this black hole, likely a \"failed supernova\" or \"direct collapse,\" prevented the system from being disrupted by explosive forces. If a traditional supernova had occurred, the gravitational shock from the explosion would have likely torn the system apart.
This discovery not only provides direct evidence for alternative black hole formation pathways but also hints that some binary black hole systems may have originated as triples. As the black hole continues to consume its closer companion, it's expected that the system will evolve, potentially leaving behind a binary system after the demise of one star.
\"This finding suggests that the universe has more diverse methods of creating black holes than previously thought,\" said Massachusetts Institute of Technology astronomer Kevin Burdge, lead author of the study published in Nature. \"It opens up new avenues for understanding the life cycles of stars and the formation of some of the most enigmatic objects in space.\"
Reference(s):
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