Astronomers Discovered One Of The Largest Black Holes Ever Recorded

An ultramassive black hole was found within the galaxy Abell 1201. This black hole, with an astounding mass of 33 billion suns, was identified through gravitational lensing. Gravitational lensing is a phenomenon where the gravitational pull of a massive galaxy bends and magnifies the light of a more distant galaxy.

By analyzing the light distortion caused by Abell 1201’s supermassive core, researchers confirmed the existence of this record-breaking black hole. This marked the first time such a discovery has been made using gravitational lensing, opening a groundbreaking avenue for studying these enigmatic giants in galaxies too distant or faint for traditional observation.

The quest to understand black holes has revealed a Universe filled with these cosmic behemoths. Supermassive black holes, like Sagittarius A* at the center of the Milky Way, are known to reside in nearly all galaxies. Ultramassive black holes, however, remain rare, lurking in the largest galaxies.

Their immense masses challenge conventional methods of study due to their vast distances and relative inactivity. The discovery in Abell 1201 underscores the potential of gravitational lensing to unlock the mysteries of these colossal black holes and may bring us closer to answering one of astronomy’s most profound questions: How large can black holes grow?

This image released by ESA Hubble shows an artist’s impression of a black hole in the Milky Way galaxy, which distorts light passing near it creating a phenomenon known as “Gravitational Lensing.”