A recent study has debunked previous claims of an intermediate-mass black hole residing in Omega Centauri, the most massive and brilliant globular star cluster in the Milky Way. Instead, a group of smaller black holes moving in and out of the densely populated star cluster’s core can account for the behavior and arrangement of its ancient stars. This research suggests that any potential intermediate-mass black hole present is significantly smaller than initially thought, with no black hole exceeding 6,000 times the mass of the sun within the cluster. The study challenges earlier findings that proposed the existence of a black hole ranging from 8,200 to 50,000 solar masses based on the rapid movements of seven stars near the cluster’s center. By analyzing the motions of both regular stars and millisecond pulsars in Omega Centauri, the researchers were able to gain insights into the distribution of mass within the cluster. Millisecond pulsars, spinning at incredible speeds, emit radio pulses that can be used to determine their velocity and acceleration towards or away from Earth, providing valuable information about the cluster’s composition.
2024-08-20 10:00:00
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