A tiny super-powered black hole was recently found in a nearby spiral galaxy called M83, which could help astronomers learn more about the evolution of the galaxy, according to an International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) report.
The black hole, named MQ1, was spotted by using a number of telescopes, like NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, and is surrounded by a bubble of hot gas.
These bubbles are heated by two jets outside the black hole releasing energy in different directions, according to the report.
"By studying microquasars (black holes surrounded by a bubble of hot gas) such as MQ1, we get a glimpse of how the early universe evolved, how fast quasars grew and how much energy black holes provided to their environment," said Dr. Robert Soria, from Curtin University in Australia and a member of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR). "As a comparison, the most powerful microquasar in our galaxy, known as SS433, is about 10 times less powerful than MQ1."
Researchers have confirmed the black hole is just 100 kilometers, though it is larger than our solar system, according to the report. The most powerful microquasar in the Milky Way, known as SS433, is 10 times less powerful than MQ1, according to the report.
Soria believes the discovery will help provide more information about the galaxy's evolution. Black holes were formed when the universe began, and MQ1 will help scientists conduct research for many years.
A black hole is defined as a place in space where gravity pulls in so much that light can't get out, according to NASA. They're also not visible by the human eye.
Other telescopes beside Hubble being used to examine the M83 galaxy includes the Australian Telescope Compact Array, the Magellan Telescope, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and the Very Large Array.
MQ1 is believed to be just one of many black holes in the M83 galaxy, according to the report.
See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?
