Two monster black holes could collide in just 100 years

Two monster black holes could collide in just 100 years

Astronomers have uncovered compelling evidence of two supermassive black holes spiraling toward a potentially spectacular collision at the center of galaxy Mrk 501. A previously unseen jet of particles revealed the likely presence of a second black hole, with observations suggesting the pair completes an orbit every 121 days. Depending on their masses, these cosmic giants could merge in as little as 100 years.

Two Black Holes Hundreds of Millions of Times the Sun’s Mass Could Soon Collide

Deep within a distant galaxy, two enormous black holes may be approaching the final stages of a collision that will combine hundreds of millions of solar masses into a single object. Astronomers examining more than two decades of radio observations have uncovered evidence that the two giants are orbiting each other approximately every 121 days. […]