1. Supermassive Black Hole
In September of 2019, astronomers made an incredible discovery- a supermassive black hole that is 21 billion times the size of our sun. This black hole is located in a galaxy called NGC 4889 and is the largest black hole that has ever been found. The previous record holder for largest black hole was only 17 billion times the size of our sun, making this newly discovered black hole nearly 25% larger. Scientists are still trying to understand how this massive black hole came to exist, but they believe that it may be the result of two smaller black holes that collided and merged together. Whatever the cause, this discovery is sure to shed new light on the nature of black holes and help us to better understand the universe around us.
2. Newborn Planet
In July of 2019, astronomers made an exciting discovery: a newborn planet that is still forming around a young star. This planet, which has been named PDS 70b, is located about 370 light-years away from Earth and is thought to be only a few million years old. While this may seem like a long time to us, it is actually quite short on the cosmic scale. In comparison, our own sun is estimated to be about 4.6 billion years old. This makes PDS 70b one of the youngest planets that has ever been discovered. The discovery of this young planet provides new insights into how planets form and evolve over time. It also offers a rare opportunity to study the conditions that are necessary for life to emerge. For all of these reasons, PDS 70b is sure to be a subject of intense scientific scrutiny in the years to come.
3. Fastest-Growing Black Hole
In June of 2019, astronomers made a startling discovery: the fastest-growing black hole that has ever been observed. This black hole, which is located in a galaxy called J215728.21-360215.1, is growing at an alarming rate of 1% per year. If this growth rate continues, the black hole will be about 12 billion times the size of our sun within just a few short years. Scientists are still baffled as to how this black hole could be growing so quickly, but they are hopeful that studying it will help shed some light on the mystery of black holes in general. In the meantime, the discovery of this supermassive black hole is sure to keep astronomers up at night.
4. Most Distant Galaxy Yet Found
In April of 2019, astronomers made a remarkable discovery: the most distant galaxy yet found. This galaxy, which has been named GN-z11, is located about 13.4 billion light-years away from Earth and is thought to be just 400 million years old. This find is significant because it suggests that galaxies were forming much earlier than previously thought. GN-z11 provides an important glimpse into the early universe, and its study will help astrophysicists to better understand the conditions that led to the formation of the first galaxies.
5. Earliest Known Stars in the Universe
In March of 2019, astronomers made a groundbreaking discovery- the earliest known stars in the universe. These stars, which are located in a galaxy called MACS0647-JD, are thought to be about 13.7 billion years old. This makes them the first stars to have formed after the Big Bang. The discovery of these stars is a major step forward in our understanding of the universe and its history. It also provides clues about the conditions that were present in the early universe and how galaxies formed in the aftermath of the Big Bang. The study of these ancient stars will continue to yield important insights into the cosmos for years to come.
