Discovery of “tipped over” black hole surprises NASA scientists [Video]

NASA researchers combined years of data and new imaging techniques to learn more about a “tipped over” black hole that is moving in an unexpected way. 

The black hole is located in a galaxy called NGC 5084. Researchers have been aware of the galaxy for years, NASA said in a news release. 

New analysis techniques developed at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California helped researchers see four long plumes of plasma emanating from the galaxy. Most galaxies don’t have plumes, and when they do, only one or two are present. The plumes suggested the galaxy might house a supermassive black hole, NASA said. Spotting both pairs, which formed an “X” shape, led researchers to focus more on the area. 

Using archived data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Telescope based in Chile, researchers found that the galaxy also had a “small, dusty inner disk” …