How did the supermassive black holes form?

One possible mechanism for the formation of supermassive black holes involves a chain reaction of collisions of stars in compact star clusters that results in the buildup of extremely massive stars, which then collapse to form intermediate-mass black holes.

How long does it take for a supermassive black hole to form?

This process could take a long time, maybe a million years or more depending on how quickly it accretes the material. Once the neutron star is over the mass limit, which is at a mass of about 3 solar masses, the collapse to a black hole occurs in less than a second.

Is there a supermassive black hole in every galaxy?

Spectacular jets are powered by the gravitational energy of a supermassive black hole in the core of the elliptical galaxy Hercules A. The jets shoot through space for millions of trillions of miles.

Do black holes really exist?

There is consensus that supermassive black holes exist in the centers of most galaxies. The presence of a black hole can be inferred through its interaction with other matter and with electromagnetic radiation such as visible light.

What is the evidence that indicates to astronomers that a supermassive black hole exists at the center of the Milky Way galaxy quizlet?

Astronomers have found convincing evidence for a super massive black hole in the center of our own Milky Way galaxy, the galaxy NGC 4258, the giant elliptical galaxy M87, and several others. Scientists verified the existence of the black holes by studying the speed of the clouds of gas orbiting those regions.

Do all galaxies have supermassive black holes?

Observational evidence indicates that almost every large galaxy has a supermassive black hole at the galaxy’s center. The Milky Way has a supermassive black hole in its Galactic Center, which corresponds to the location of Sagittarius A*.

How are supermassive black holes formed?

One possible mechanism for the formation of supermassive black holes involves a chain reaction of collisions of stars in compact star clusters that results in the buildup of extremely massive stars, which then collapse to form intermediate-mass black holes. The star clusters then sink to the center of the galaxy,…

What is the size of a giant black hole?

Babies and Giants. On the other end of the size spectrum are the giants known as “supermassive” black holes, which are millions, if not billions, of times as massive as the Sun. Astronomers believe that supermassive black holes lie at the center of virtually all large galaxies, even our own Milky Way.

How do we owe our existence on Earth to black holes?

So, in some sense, we owe our existence on Earth to long-ago explosions and collision events that formed black holes. On a larger scale, most galaxies seem to have supermassive black holes at their centers. The connection between the formation of these supermassive black holes and the formation of galaxies is still not understood.

What is the relationship between black holes and galaxies?

On a larger scale, most galaxies seem to have supermassive black holes at their centers. The connection between the formation of these supermassive black holes and the formation of galaxies is still not understood. It is possible that a black hole could have played a role in the formation of our Milky Way galaxy.