In findings shared via The Astrophysical Journal, NASA scientists have detected an extraordinary black hole in the galaxy NGC 5084. Located about 80 million light years away in the constellation Virgo, the black hole has been observed to be at an inclination of 90 degrees. Galactic plane. According to the report, using archival data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory and imagery from the Hubble Space Telescope, the research team identified twin plasma plumes forming a striking “X” shape, an unprecedented phenomenon in astronomical observations.
Unusual discovery sparks investigation
The discovery was attributed to a novel image analysis method known as Selective Amplification of Ultra Noisy Astronomical Signals (SAUNAS), which enables researchers to detect faint X-ray emissions. The study team noted this deviation from the typical spherical distribution of X-rays, indicating an important and previously unknown event in the galaxy’s history.
Dr. Pamela Marcum, an astrophysicist at NASA’s Ames Research Center, explained in a statement that the unusual cross-shaped structure of the
Hypothesis of a cosmic collision
Further analysis via the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) confirmed the presence of a dusty ring in the galactic core, which rotates in alignment with the inclination of the black hole. The alignment and structural anomalies suggest that NGC 5084 may have experienced a collision with another galaxy, generating plasma outflows above and below its plane.
Dr. Alejandro Serrano Borlauf of the Ames Research Center said the combination of observations at multiple wavelengths has revealed the dynamic and transformational events that have shaped this galaxy.
The discovery underscores the potential of decades-old archived data, when combined with modern processing techniques. Researchers anticipate that ongoing studies will reveal more information about the violent event that changed the structure and orientation of NGC 5084.
