MIT and Caltech Discover First Black Hole Triple System V404 Cygni, Consuming a Small Star in 6.5-Day Orbit

Oct 23, 2024, 04:37 PM

Physicists at MIT and Caltech have announced the discovery of the first known 'black hole triple,' located over 8,000 light years from Earth. This system, named V404 Cygni, consists of a central black hole that is consuming a small star in a close 6.5-day orbit, while a second star, located billions of kilometers away, is also gravitationally connected to the duo. This finding challenges existing models of black hole formation and expands the understanding of how giant stars die. The discovery was described as a 'happy accident' and represents a significant advancement in astrophysics.