In a remarkable discovery, astronomers have observed the awakening of a supermassive black hole located 300 million light-years away. This cosmic event, which unfolded over the past five years, provides valuable insights into how black holes grow and evolve.
The galaxy in question, known by its nickname SDSS1335+0728, had remained faint in the night sky for two decades until late 2019. Suddenly, it began to shine brighter than ever before, emitting ultraviolet, optical, and infrared light.
This initial brightening caught the attention of the Zwicky Transient Facility telescope, which issued an alert. But that was just the warmup.
This year, SDSS1335+0728 took things up a notch. It started emitting X-rays, a clear sign that something extraordinary was happening at its core.
The team of astronomers, led by Paula Sánchez Sáez from the Millennium Institute of Astrophysics in Chile, concluded that a supermassive black hole—one million times the mass of our Sun—was coming to life. As it consumed surrounding material, it brightened its surroundings, like a celestial beast awakening from slumber.
“This behavior is unprecedented,” said Sánchez Sáez. “Regardless of the nature of the variations, provides valuable information on how black holes grow and evolve.”
The black hole’s sudden activation surprised the scientific community. Typically, these colossal entities remain dormant and invisible. But SDSS1335+0728 allowed astronomers to witness its awakening firsthand.
Claudio Ricci, a study co-author from Diego Portales University, explained, “In the case of SDSS1335+0728, we were able to observe the awakening of the massive black hole, All of a sudden, it began to thrive on the gas present in its surroundings and grew extremely brilliant.”
Despite the strong evidence pointing to the black hole’s activation, the team plans to conduct follow-up observations to confirm the nature of this extraordinary event. Could it be a rare tidal disruption, where a passing object is torn apart by the black hole’s immense gravitational force, illuminating the cosmos around it? Only further study will reveal the full story.
This groundbreaking discovery opens a new chapter in our understanding of supermassive black holes and their dynamic behavior. As astronomers continue to monitor SDSS1335+0728, we eagerly await more revelations from the depths of the universe.
