Astronomers have identified the "Infinity Galaxy," resulting from the collision of two galaxies. This unique system features three active supermassive black holes, including one situated between the two galaxies. Observations using data from the James Webb Space Telescope revealed bright spots representing the galaxy nuclei, which are surrounded by rings of stars. Notably, one of the black holes may have formed recently within this complex, indicating insights into how supermassive black holes develop and grow in mass.
Everything is unusual about this galaxy. Not only does it look very strange, but it also has this supermassive black hole that's pulling a lot of material in.
As an unexpected bonus, it turns out that both galaxy nuclei also have an active supermassive black hole. So, this system has three confirmed active black holes.
In an image taken with the Webb, two bright spots represent the nuclei of each of the two colliding galaxies, both surrounded by their own ring of stars.
It likely didn't just arrive there, but instead it formed there. And pretty recently. We think we're witnessing the birth of a supermassive black hole.
#infinity-galaxy #black-holes #james-webb-space-telescope #galaxy-collision #supermassive-black-holes
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