Groundbreaking Discovery of Binary Black Holes in Quasar OJ287

In an unprecedented scientific breakthrough, scientists have captured a radio image of two black holes orbiting each other within a bright quasar known as OJ287, located approximately 5 billion light-years away in the constellation Cancer. This discovery confirms scientific theories that have been questioned for decades.

Quasars and Their Black Holes

Quasars are among the brightest objects in the universe, located at the centers of galaxies where violent conditions around massive black holes heat gas and dust to luminous levels. Previously, scientists have managed to capture images of individual black holes, such as those in our Milky Way galaxy and in galaxy M87, but capturing two black holes orbiting together had remained elusive.

Recent discoveries have shown that OJ287 is one of those bright quasars observable even by amateur astronomers using personal telescopes. However, it was previously impossible to capture an image of two black holes orbiting each other due to telescopes’ inability to distinguish them as separate light points.

Significance of the New Discovery

This new discovery serves as clear evidence of the existence of binary black holes, which are gravitational giants bound together. This theory was confirmed through radio observations combining data from ground-based telescopes and the Russian satellite RadioAstron, which operated from 2011 to 2019. This satellite provided scientists with an exceptionally sharp view, surpassing traditional optical images by a hundred thousand times.

Researchers explained that black holes themselves are invisible as they are entirely black, but they can be detected through the jets of particles or glowing gas surrounding them. The new images revealed jets from the smaller black hole twisting like a rotating garden hose, reflecting its rapid movement around the larger black hole.

Observing Quasar OJ287 Over Time

The quasar OJ287 has been observed for more than a century, with early photographic images from the late 19th century capturing this region before scientists could even conceive of black holes or quasars.

The quasar began attracting attention in 1982 when Finnish astronomer Aimo Sillanpää noticed its brightness fluctuated regularly every 12 years, suggesting the presence of two black holes orbiting within it. Since then, hundreds of scientists have monitored OJ287 to test the theory and seek conclusive evidence that the two black holes indeed share the same galactic core.

Conclusion

This discovery marks a significant step in astronomy, providing the clearest evidence yet of binary black holes, opening new horizons for understanding the universe and cosmic phenomena. As scientists continue to observe this system, they will have a rare opportunity to follow the evolution of the motion in real-time, potentially revealing new secrets about black holes and quasars.