A Black Hole Collided With Something That Shouldn’t Exist

Astronomers are puzzling over observations that show a black hole smashing into a mystery object of unusual size.

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Tau.Neutrino said:

A Black Hole Collided With Something That Shouldn’t Exist

Astronomers are puzzling over observations that show a black hole smashing into a mystery object of unusual size.

more…

> the unknown object was just 2.6 times the Sun’s mass, which is distinctly weird. A black hole of 2.6 solar masses would be the smallest on record (the lightest known black hole is 5 solar masses), while a neutron star of the same mass would be the biggest on record (the heaviest neutron stars are between 2.3 and 2.4 solar masses).

I vote for small black hole. There is no theoretical lower limit to the mass of a black hole.

As you can probably deduce, it doesn’t really matter. A large star ends up as a neutron star, a larger star ends up as black hole. There has to be some initial star mass that ends up as an object 2.6 solar masses in diameter. We just don’t know enough about supernovas to determine which.

mollwollfumble said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

A Black Hole Collided With Something That Shouldn’t Exist

Astronomers are puzzling over observations that show a black hole smashing into a mystery object of unusual size.

more…

> the unknown object was just 2.6 times the Sun’s mass, which is distinctly weird. A black hole of 2.6 solar masses would be the smallest on record (the lightest known black hole is 5 solar masses), while a neutron star of the same mass would be the biggest on record (the heaviest neutron stars are between 2.3 and 2.4 solar masses).

I vote for small black hole. There is no theoretical lower limit to the mass of a black hole.

As you can probably deduce, it doesn’t really matter. A large star ends up as a neutron star, a larger star ends up as black hole. There has to be some initial star mass that ends up as an object 2.6 solar masses in diameter. We just don’t know enough about supernovas to determine which.

2.6 solar masses in diameter?

I don’t understand this measurement.

Michael V said:

mollwollfumble said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

A Black Hole Collided With Something That Shouldn’t Exist

Astronomers are puzzling over observations that show a black hole smashing into a mystery object of unusual size.

more…

> the unknown object was just 2.6 times the Sun’s mass, which is distinctly weird. A black hole of 2.6 solar masses would be the smallest on record (the lightest known black hole is 5 solar masses), while a neutron star of the same mass would be the biggest on record (the heaviest neutron stars are between 2.3 and 2.4 solar masses).

I vote for small black hole. There is no theoretical lower limit to the mass of a black hole.

As you can probably deduce, it doesn’t really matter. A large star ends up as a neutron star, a larger star ends up as black hole. There has to be some initial star mass that ends up as an object 2.6 solar masses in diameter. We just don’t know enough about supernovas to determine which.

2.6 solar masses in diameter?

I don’t understand this measurement.

It’s an arbitrary amount Mr V. Sorta like Sydney Harbour fulls. I’m not sure how many Sydney Harbour full would equal one solar mass but.

Woodie said:

Michael V said:

mollwollfumble said:

> the unknown object was just 2.6 times the Sun’s mass, which is distinctly weird. A black hole of 2.6 solar masses would be the smallest on record (the lightest known black hole is 5 solar masses), while a neutron star of the same mass would be the biggest on record (the heaviest neutron stars are between 2.3 and 2.4 solar masses).

I vote for small black hole. There is no theoretical lower limit to the mass of a black hole.

As you can probably deduce, it doesn’t really matter. A large star ends up as a neutron star, a larger star ends up as black hole. There has to be some initial star mass that ends up as an object 2.6 solar masses in diameter. We just don’t know enough about supernovas to determine which.

2.6 solar masses in diameter?

I don’t understand this measurement.

It’s an arbitrary amount Mr V. Sorta like Sydney Harbour fulls. I’m not sure how many Sydney Harbour full would equal one solar mass but.

I know what a solar mass is.

Think of it this way: I know what a gram is -it’s a measurement of mass. I know what a millimetre is – it’s a measurement of length – one can measure diameters this way.

But what on earth does “a gram in diameter” mean?