Galaxy with an Ejected Supermassive Black Hole (IMAGE)
Caption
The galaxy 3C186, located about 8 billion years from Earth, is most likely the result of a merger of two galaxies. This is supported by arc-shaped tidal tails, usually produced by a gravitational tug between two colliding galaxies, identified by the scientists. The merger of the galaxies also led to a merger of the two supermassive black holes in their centers, and the resultant black hole was then kicked out of its parent galaxy by the gravitational waves created by the merger.
Credit
NASA, ESA, and M. Chiaberge (STScI/ESA)
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