A pair of supermassive black holes stuck for three billion years

As the site tells it New Atlas, On Wednesday March 6, scientists observed what may be the longest flirtation in the history of the universe. Two giant black holes attracted to each other, but circling each other in slow motion, like clumsy teenagers, in a sort of endless celestial tango.

The black holes B2 0402 + 379 have already tried to come closer several times, before moving away again. However, they are not very far from each other, only 24 light years. In comparison, the closest pair of black holes known so far were 1,600 light years away.

Their mass is 28 million times that of the sun

Astronomers no longer let go of their telescopes in the hope of finally witnessing the moment when black holes emit gravitational waves. When they merge, black holes emit kinds of vibrations, waves that distort the very fabric of space-time.

But will that day come? Nothing is less certain because the more massive the black holes are, the more difficult it is for them to merge. However, their mass represents 28 million times that of the sun, unheard of for a pair of black holes. According to scientists, perhaps a third black hole, some sort of intermediary, could help them merge. If this happens, the climax will be felt throughout the universe, as the gravitational waves would then be 100 million times more powerful than any that have been detected so far.