Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery by identifying the first-ever “black hole triple” system, which consists of a dark void orbited by two stars. This unique configuration challenges previous beliefs about how black holes are formed, as it suggests that the black hole in question was not created through a supernova explosion.
Typically, black holes are found in binary systems where they are orbited by another large object like a star, neutron star, or a smaller black hole. However, in this newly discovered system, researchers observed a second star circling the black hole V404 Cygni at a much greater distance than its companion star. This finding contradicts the idea that black holes are primarily formed through stellar explosions.
According to gravitational calculations, the distant star in the triple system could not have remained in orbit if the black hole had been born from a supernova. This leads scientists to believe that the black hole may have formed through the gradual collapse of a massive third star that was once orbited by the other two stars. This discovery challenges the prevailing theory that most black holes originate from violent stellar explosions.
The black hole in question, V404 Cygni, is approximately nine times more massive than the sun and is located around 8,000 light-years away in the Milky Way galaxy. It was initially discovered in 1992 and has since been extensively studied. The nearby star that orbits V404 Cygni every 6.5 days is slowly losing mass to the black hole.
Upon reexamining images of V404 Cygni as part of a broader survey of black holes in the Milky Way, researchers identified the second star circling the black hole at a distance of 3,500 astronomical units, indicating a triple system. The movements of the two stars were found to be synchronized, confirming their gravitational connection to each other and to the black hole.
While previous instances of apparent black hole triples turned out to be binary systems upon further investigation, the newfound system offers compelling evidence of a true triple system. This discovery sheds new light on the formation of black holes and suggests that gradual collapse may be a more common origin mechanism than previously thought.
As scientists continue to unravel the mysteries of the universe, the discovery of this unique black hole triple system opens up new possibilities for understanding the evolution of these enigmatic cosmic entities.