A science briefing held at NASA Headquarters Nov. 15 discusses the discovery by astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory of what could be the youngest black hole in our cosmic neighbourhood -- a mere 30 years old. The "baby" black hole is a remnant of SN 1979C, a supernova in the galaxy M100 about 50 million light years from Earth. Scientists believe that SN1979C, discovered by an amateur astronomer in 1979, formed with the collapse of a star about 20 times more massive than our Sun. The object's detection provides a unique opportunity to watch a black hole develop during infancy.
Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have found evidence of the youngest black hole known to exist in our cosmic neighbourhood. The 30-year-old black hole provides a unique opportunity to watch this type of object develop from infancy. The black hole could help scientists better understand how massive stars explode, which ones leave behind black holes or neutron stars, and the number of black holes in our galaxy and others. The 30-year-old object is a remnant of SN 1979C, a supernova in the galaxy M100 approximately 50 million light years from Earth. Read more
NASA will hold a televised news conference at 12:30 pm EST, 15th November, 2010, in which they will announce latest discovery by the Chandra X-ray Observatory.
Astronomers and UFO bloggers alike have been waiting in anticipation for NASA's press conference today on the discovery of 'an exceptional object in our cosmic neighbourhood'. Read more