Two black holes are orbiting each other at a distance of about four billion light years from us. Located at the center of galaxy OJ 287, these black holes were discovered by astronomers from Turku in 1982, but confirmation of their existence was recently obtained. The smaller black hole was confirmed by NASA’s Tess satellite, which observed a sudden increase in brightness indicating its presence. This outburst occurred as the smaller black hole interacted with the gas disk surrounding the larger black hole.
The sudden brightening of the smaller black hole was predicted by researcher Pauli Pihajoki and observed by Tess in November 2021. This confirmation is significant as it verifies the presence of a double black hole system in OJ 287. Notably, this discovery aligns with the predictions made by Professor Mauri Valtonen in 1974 regarding the existence of double black holes. The brief outburst emitted by the smaller black hole illuminated the surrounding gas disc, allowing for its detection.
The rapid increase in brightness seen during the outburst event indicated the presence of the smaller black hole. This phenomenon, which lasted for only 12 hours, is challenging to observe without prior knowledge. The event was confirmed by various telescopes and satellites, such as NASA’s Swift telescope, providing additional evidence for the existence of the double black hole system in OJ 287.
The discovery of the double black hole system in OJ 287 sheds light on the dynamics of such systems and provides valuable insights into the interaction between black holes and their surrounding environments. Additionally, the detection of gravitational waves from OJ 287, particularly from the smaller black hole, presents an exciting avenue for further research in the field of astrophysics.