Researchers at the IAC have discovered the fast 'fall' of two stars on black holes

In this picture the binary system XTE J1118+480 is depicted, with the companion star falling to the black hole. Credit: Gabriel Pérez (SMM-IAC)
In this picture the binary system XTE J1118+480 is depicted, with the companion star falling to the black hole. Credit: Gabriel Pérez (SMM-IAC)
Advertised on

Thanks to the Gran Telescopio CANARIAS (GTC), the authors have demonstrated that two companion stars orbiting black holes are indeed falling onto these black holes, but the spiral-in of these companion stars is faster than what the theory predicts.

ANIMATION

Further information and interview:

News type
Press release

It may interest you

  • HD 192575
    Press release
    Massive pulsating star provides clues to calibrate stellar evolution models

    An international collaboration, with the participation of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), determines with an unprecedented level of precision the mass, age and rotation profile of the core of a massive pulsating star. Known as HD 192575, it has been observed by the NASA space telescope TESS continuously for more than a year. The results shed new light on how such stars are internally structured and how they evolve until their death, when they explode as supernovae and form neutron stars and black holes. The scientific team has also used observations made with the Mercator

    Advertised on
  • SALSA Galaxy Mosaic
    Press release
    Astronomers study the magnetic chaos of galaxies in the nearby Universe

    International research, with the participation of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), reveals that perturbations in the magnetic fields of galaxies may be related to star formation. The study has mapped the magnetic fields of about fifteen galaxies in the vicinity of the Milky Way. The data were obtained with the HAWC+ instrument on board SOFIA, an airborne infrared telescope on a Boeing 747 that was operational until September 2022. The results are published in The Astrophysical Journal. For decades, astronomers have studied the forces that govern the interior of galaxies -

    Advertised on
  • Lluvia de meteoros
    Press release
    La lluvia más esperada del verano

    La noche del 12 al 13 de agosto, el canal sky-live.tv se desplazará hasta Extremadura para retransmitir el máximo de las Perseidas 2023 desde el Centro Internacional de Innovación Deportiva en el Medio Natural “El Anillo”, además de desde los Observatorios de Canarias, como una de las actividades de divulgación del proyecto Energy Efficiency Laboratories (EELabs).

    Advertised on