New study suggests the closest black holes to Earth may be in the Hyades cluster
(ORDO NEWS) — Black holes have long captured the imagination of both scientists and the general public. These mysterious and enigmatic cosmic phenomena continue to be the subject of intense study and research. Now, a recent study published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society hints at the presence of several black holes in the Hyades cluster, making them potentially the closest black holes ever discovered to Earth.
The Hyades Cluster, located about 45 parsecs or 150 light-years from the Sun, is the closest open cluster to our Solar System. Open clusters are groups of stars that share common characteristics, such as age and chemical composition. The team of astrophysicists who conducted the study used simulations to track the motion and evolution of all the stars in the Hyades cluster and compared the results with data from the Gaia space telescope.
The Gaia satellite, launched by the European Space Agency (ESA), has been instrumental in obtaining precise observations of the positions and velocities of stars in the Hyades cluster. By comparing the simulation results with observational data, the researchers concluded that the presence of black holes in the cluster best explains its observed properties.
“Our simulation can simultaneously match the mass and size of the Hyades only if black holes are present at the center of the cluster today (or until recently), explains Stefano Torniamenti, a researcher at the University of Padua and lead author of the paper. The simulation shows that
currently There may be two or three black holes in the Hyades cluster at some time, but even if all the black holes were ejected from the cluster in the last 150 million years, traces of their previous existence would still be visible as a result of the cluster’s evolution.
The discovery is significant because it suggests that black holes may be more common in open clusters than previously thought. In addition, questions arise about the formation and evolution of black holes in such clusters. Further studies and observations will be required to confirm the presence of black holes in the Hyades cluster and to better understand their role in the dynamics of these stellar groups.
Quoting the scientists, Dr Mark Gieles, Professor in the Department of Physics at MCRE and a member of the research team, said: “The potential discovery of black holes in the Hyades cluster opens up exciting opportunities for studying these mysterious objects in more detail. By studying black holes in open clusters, we can gain insight into the mechanisms of their formation and interaction with surrounding stars.”
Black holes continue to be a source of fascination for both scientists and the general public. Their existence and properties call into question our understanding of the laws of physics and the nature of space and time. According to Dr. Friedrich Anders, another member of the research team, “black holes are like laboratories in space that allow us to test our theories and expand the boundaries of our knowledge.” The potential discovery of black holes in the Hyades cluster is a testament to ongoing research and discovery in the field of astrophysics.”
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