Study: Black Holes Responsible For Planet-Sized Masses Hurling Through Space
- 7 years ago
Black holes are ridiculously powerful forces, and it would be completely logical to believe that once an unwitting star gets sucked into one, it’s life is over. It turns out, that is not the case.
Black holes are ridiculously powerful forces, and it would be completely logical to believe that once an unwitting star gets sucked into one, it’s life is over.
It turns out, that is not the case.
Research presented at the recent meeting of the American Astronomical Society shows that not only do gasses from the star escape the black hole’s death grip, they go on to form planet-sized masses than can weigh as much as many Jupiters.
Further, those very heavy orbs get flung through space, barreling through the cosmos at a speed of roughly 20 million miles per hour.
So, is Earth at risk of being decimated by one of the hurdling gas balls?
According to study author Eden Girma, a student at Harvard University, that does not appear to be a threat at this time.
Based on her calculations, the masses stay at a safe distance, generally coming no closer than hundreds of light-years from here.
As added comfort, it is estimated that 95% of them zoom through and out of our galaxy.
Black holes are ridiculously powerful forces, and it would be completely logical to believe that once an unwitting star gets sucked into one, it’s life is over.
It turns out, that is not the case.
Research presented at the recent meeting of the American Astronomical Society shows that not only do gasses from the star escape the black hole’s death grip, they go on to form planet-sized masses than can weigh as much as many Jupiters.
Further, those very heavy orbs get flung through space, barreling through the cosmos at a speed of roughly 20 million miles per hour.
So, is Earth at risk of being decimated by one of the hurdling gas balls?
According to study author Eden Girma, a student at Harvard University, that does not appear to be a threat at this time.
Based on her calculations, the masses stay at a safe distance, generally coming no closer than hundreds of light-years from here.
As added comfort, it is estimated that 95% of them zoom through and out of our galaxy.