Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
A black hole tipped on its side, found in the galaxy NGC 5084, reveals a cosmic anomaly unseen before, challenging current astronomical models.
Twin plasma plumes in an unusual X-shape led scientists to uncover the tilted black hole using Chandra’s advanced X-ray imaging techniques.
The team suspects a galactic collision as the culprit for this strange black hole orientation, leaving a "chimney" of plasma in its wake.
Using a new analysis method, SAUNAS, low-brightness X-rays were teased out, making this discovery possible and highlighting the black hole’s bizarre nature.
Follow-up observations with Hubble and ALMA revealed a dusty ring at the galaxy’s center, confirming the black hole’s 90-degree rotation to its host galaxy.
Viewing NGC 5084 across multiple wavelengths exposed dramatic changes in its history, akin to piecing together a cosmic crime scene.
Plasma erupting from the top and bottom of the galaxy points to a violent collision, reshaping NGC 5084’s structure and tipping its black hole.
Archived data spanning three decades, combined with innovative techniques, proved instrumental in uncovering the sideways black hole’s origin.
The study, led by Alejandro Serrano Borlaff, was published in The Astrophysical Journal, showcasing the potential of archival and cutting-edge technologies.
Credit: NASA