When was the first supermassive black hole measured in a galaxy?
Quick Answer
The first strong evidence for a supermassive black hole in a galaxy came in the 1970s, especially through observations of M87 and other active galaxies.
The Full Story
During the 1970s, astronomers gathered strong evidence that the centers of some galaxies contain supermassive black holes. Observations of rapid gas and star motions, along with energetic radio and X-ray emission, pointed to extremely compact and massive objects. One of the most famous cases was the galaxy M87, whose central object was later measured at about 6.5 billion solar masses. These studies laid the groundwork for modern black hole astronomy.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"How astronomers found the monsters hiding in galaxy centers."
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