3 ms·
> the researchers were able to observe characteristic X-rays and ionized gas rotating at a speed of several 100 km/s in a ring around the suspected location of
by andrewflnr 2y ago
> the researchers were able to observe characteristic X-rays and ionized gas rotating at a speed of several 100 km/s in a ring around the suspected location of the intermediate-mass black hole.
That's a little better than circumstantial.
- jiggawatts 2y agoDoes that confirm the size of the black hole, or is it just a "strong hint"?
- andrewflnr 2y agoFair, I have no idea if it confirms the size, though maybe the specific speed of the gas helps with that. Mostly it's evidence that there is a black hole, but it's not supermassive, and a stellar-mass one probably wouldn't have enough effect to be noticed.
- saagarjha 2y agoYou can determine the mass of something by measuring the time it takes for an orbit around it, yes.
- andrewflnr 2y agoYou need the orbital radius, too.
- saagarjha 2y agoYep. You can get both from observations of the orbiting object.