RUNAWAY SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE ILLUSTRATION (IMAGE)

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

RUNAWAY SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE ILLUSTRATION

Caption

This is an artist's impression of a runaway supermassive black hole that was ejected from its host galaxy as a result of a tussle between it and two other black holes. As the black hole plows through intergalactic space it compresses tenuous gas in front to it. This precipitates the birth of hot blue stars. This illustration is based on Hubble Space Telescope observations of a 200,000-light-year-long "contrail" of stars behind an escaping black hole.

Credit

NASA, ESA, Leah Hustak (STScI)

Usage Restrictions

No restrictions.

License

Public Domain

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