A supermassive black hole, residing 300 million light-years away in the Virgo constellation, has unexpectedly sprung to life, emitting unusual X-ray flares since December 2019. This galaxy, named SDSS1335+0728 and nicknamed "Ansky," has puzzled astronomers due to its sudden shift from dormancy to intense activity.
For decades, the black hole at the galaxy's center remained quiet. However, it suddenly brightened, signaling a significant change. Astronomers, including a team led by Lorena Hernández-García from Valparaiso University in Chile, have been closely monitoring these developments. In February 2024, they observed powerful, repeating X-ray flares, known as quasi-periodic eruptions (QPEs), that were far more energetic than typical QPEs. These findings were published in Nature Astronomy on April 11.
These QPEs challenge existing theories about the cause of such flares. While QPEs are often associated with a star being torn apart by a black hole, no evidence of a destroyed star was found in Ansky. One theory suggests a smaller object, such as a star or mini black hole, is disrupting the central black hole's disk. Another possibility involves gravitational waves causing the flares. The European Space Agency's Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), scheduled for launch in the 2030s, may help investigate further. Ansky continues to intrigue researchers, offering a new perspective on black hole behavior and potentially reshaping our understanding of the universe's most powerful forces.