Το «γεύμα» της μαύρης τρύπας του Γαλαξία, A Black Hole's Dinner is Fast Approaching

This view shows a simulation of how a gas cloud that has been observed approaching the supermassive black hole at the centre of the galaxy may break apart over the next few years. This is the first time ever that the approach of such a doomed cloud to a supermassive black hole has been observed and it is expected to break up completely during 2013. The remains of the gas cloud are shown in red and yellow, with the cloud’s orbit marked in red. The stars orbiting the black hole are also shown along with blue lines marking their orbits. This view simulates the expected positions of the stars and gas cloud in the year 2021. Credit: ESO/MPE/Marc Schartmann

Βίαιο θάνατο αναμένεται να συναντήσει ένα γιγάντιο νέφος αερίων τους προσεχείς μήνες. Το νέφος κατευθύνεται με μεγάλη ταχύτητα προς τη γιγάντια μαύρη τρύπα που υπάρχει στο κέντρο του γαλαξία μας, του Τοξότη Α*. Το φαινόμενο παρακολουθούν επιστήμονες του Ινστιτούτου Εξωγήινης Φυσικής Μαξ Πλανκ στη Γερμανία που έδωσαν νέα στοιχεία για αυτό.

Astronomers using ESO's Very Large Telescope have discovered a gas cloud with several times the mass of the Earth accelerating towards the black hole at the centre of the Milky Way. This is the first time ever that the approach of such a doomed cloud to a supermassive black hole has been observed. This ESOcast explains the new results and includes spectacular simulations of how the cloud will break up over the next few years. Credit: ESO