By Robbert van der Linde
Aug 22, 2023 at 8:23 PM Update: 2 hours ago
Black holes can move much faster than previously thought. They can reach speeds of about 28,500 kilometers per second. That’s about a tenth of the speed of light.
Researchers at the Rochester Institute of Technology published their calculations in a article of the scientific society American Physical Society. According to the scientists, 10 percent of the speed of light is the maximum speed at which black holes can travel.
Contrary to popular belief, black holes are not always located at the same point in space. Like the Earth and other planets, they are constantly moving on a journey through the universe. The fastest speeds are achieved when black holes collide and merge.
As soon as they merge, the new black hole will shoot in a certain direction at full speed. With a speed of 28,500 kilometers per second, a black hole would take about thirteen seconds to travel from the earth to the moon. It was previously estimated that black holes can travel at a maximum speed of 5,000 kilometers per second.
Incidentally, black holes rotate much faster around their center of gravity. This happens at a speed of more than 90 percent of the speed of light. This is because the center of a black hole is very heavy, but also very small.
The researchers speak of a groundbreaking discovery, but emphasize that more research and calculations are needed. The first picture of a black hole was taken in 2019, but we still have no idea what black holes look like exactly. Most images of black holes are a simulation or what is known as an artist’s impression.
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Universe and SpaceScience
2023-08-22 18:23:00
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