Chandra discovered a supermassive black hole on a collision course.

A new study using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has discovered the extraordinary phenomenon of two pairs of supermassive black holes, located in dwarf galaxies, heading for a collision course. This remarkable finding was made possible by Chandra’s powerful X-ray vision, which enabled researchers to observe the high-energy radiation from these supermassive black holes, providing evidence that they are heading toward a massive cosmic smashup. The results of this study are not only important for understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies, but also the formation of gravitational waves, which could provide an invaluable source of information about the nature of our universe.

Dwarf galaxies are small galaxies that contain significantly fewer stars than the Milky Way. This is largely due to their much lower total mass, which is typically less than 3 billion solar masses, or approximately 20 times less than the Milky Way. Dwarf galaxies are often located in the outer reaches of larger galaxies, such as the Milky Way, and can be difficult to identify due to their small size and low light output.

Astronomers have long suspected that dwarf galaxies merged to create the large galaxies seen in the universe today. This process is thought to have been especially prevalent in the relatively early universe, when stars, gas and dust were more concentrated due to the denser environment, allowing larger galaxies to form with greater speed. Through astronomical observations and computer simulations, it has been revealed that merging galaxies can create larger galaxies and even produce active galactic nuclei in these newly formed galaxies.

The first generation of dwarf galaxy mergers are exceptionally faint at their great distances and therefore, current observation techniques have not been successful in detecting them. However, it is possible to look for signs of these merger events in other ways. Unfortunately, this strategy has not yielded any results to date. Scientists hope to gain new insights into the formation of galaxies by discovering more about these elusive dwarf galaxy mergers. With better observation techniques, they may be able to uncover clues that will help them understand the early stages of galactic formation.

Chandra was an invaluable asset to this study, due to its ability to observe the incredibly hot material surrounding a black hole. As the material is heated to temperatures reaching into the millions of degrees, it produces a large amount of X-rays. This radiation is detectable by Chandra, allowing researchers to get a better view of the structure and behavior of the black hole itself. A team of astronomers searching for evidence of two black holes in colliding dwarf galaxies recently discovered two different pairs of bright X-ray sources. These sources were believed to be the tell-tale signs of two supermassive black holes that had formed from the remnants of the collision.