The closest black hole to Earth is something else entirely

Two research teams closely examined the star system HR 6819 and found a “stellar vampire” instead of a black hole.

in front of something less than two years become in one 1120 light years The distant star system, closest to Earth up to that point Black hole Discover. Researchers around the world of astronomers Thomas Ravinius Presumably it was about two stars.

Whether it is short HR 6819 The indicated star system already contains a black hole, however, suspicions soon arose. It now appears to have been confirmed Science alert reports.

Because after a recent study of the star system, there is a lot to suggest that HR 6819 is a binary star system without a black hole. Instead, one star absorbs life from the other.

A binary star system without a black hole was already the subject of a study by Belgian astronomers KU LOVE I got out. The research team has now collaborated to clarify which of their hypotheses is likely to apply.

Better data and tools

For investigations, data from Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) European Southern Observatory (ESO) are used. These are much steeper than those found in the 2.2-meter telescope used to discover the black hole.

Rivinius, the supposed discoverer of the black hole, said in a broadcast from the ESO Science Outrech Network quoted. It is very likely that HR 6819 is a binary star system without a black hole.

“Astral Vampire”

The astronomer explained that the binary star system was discovered at a moment when a star sucked the atmosphere off its companion star. Julia Bodensteiner. While the donating star lost some of its material, the other started spinning faster. This is sometimes referred to as a “stellar vampire,” the astronomer said.

Such a “vampire” massive star evolution and associated formation gravitational waves and more violent Supernova explosions After the impact, astronomers now want to do more research.

They have their results in the specialized journal Astronomy and astrophysics chest.