NASA researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding a black hole in the NGC 5084 galaxy that appears to be rotating at an unexpected angle compared to the surrounding galaxy. This revelation comes from a re-analysis of legacy data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, employing innovative techniques that have unveiled an unusual structure of four plasma plumes forming an X-shaped pattern emanating from the galaxy’s core. These findings challenge existing assumptions about black hole orientations within galaxies.
The analysis of Chandra’s X-ray data revealed two pairs of plasma plumes. One pair is aligned perpendicularly above and below the galaxy’s plane, while the other lies within the plane, creating a distinctive cross-like configuration. Such phenomena are rarely observed and suggest significant disruptions in the galaxy’s past.
Insights from Multi-Wavelength Analysis
Further investigation, utilizing archived observations from the Hubble Space Telescope and ALMA in Chile, uncovered a small dusty disk at the center of the galaxy. This inner disk is aligned at a 90-degree angle to the galaxy’s overall rotation, confirming the presence of a supermassive black hole that is oriented “sideways.”
The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal, employed a new method called Selective Amplification of Ultra Noisy Astronomical Signal (SAUNAS). This innovative approach enabled astronomers to detect faint X-ray emissions and re-examine archival data. Lead scientist Dr. Alejandro Serrano Borlaff explained that combining observations across the electromagnetic spectrum, including radio and visible light, highlighted significant changes in NGC 5084’s recent history.
Co-author Pamela Marcum, an astrophysicist at NASA Ames Research Center, emphasized the importance of the cross-shaped plume structure and the tipped disk, stating that they provide rare insights into the galaxy’s evolution. Researchers suggest that the unusual configuration may have resulted from past events, such as a galactic collision or the expulsion of superheated gas.
Future studies will focus on understanding the series of events that led to this black hole’s unique orientation and the associated structures, paving the way for deeper insights into the dynamics of galaxies.
