🧵
This bright image features the central region of the Omega Centauri globular cluster, where a research team, using more than 500 images from Hubble, found evidence of a rare intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) candidate.
Why do researchers think so?
➡️ science.nasa.gov/missions/hub...
🔭 🧪 1/7
This bright image features the central region of the Omega Centauri globular cluster, where a research team, using more than 500 images from Hubble, found evidence of a rare intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) candidate.
Why do researchers think so?
➡️ science.nasa.gov/missions/hub...
🔭 🧪 1/7
January 5, 2026 at 11:38 PM
🧵
This bright image features the central region of the Omega Centauri globular cluster, where a research team, using more than 500 images from Hubble, found evidence of a rare intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) candidate.
Why do researchers think so?
➡️ science.nasa.gov/missions/hub...
🔭 🧪 1/7
This bright image features the central region of the Omega Centauri globular cluster, where a research team, using more than 500 images from Hubble, found evidence of a rare intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) candidate.
Why do researchers think so?
➡️ science.nasa.gov/missions/hub...
🔭 🧪 1/7
From Archana Aravindan: How can we find the gravitational waves that form when an IMBH and SMBH merge? Read ahead to find out how we can prepare to detect these supposedly common mergers using LISA! 🔭✨
astrobites.org/2025/01/09/g...
astrobites.org/2025/01/09/g...
Giving Justice to Intermediate Mass Black Hole Mergers! - astrobites
How can we find the gravitational waves that form when an IMBH and SMBH merge? Read ahead to find out how we can prepare to detect these supposedly common mergers using LISA!
astrobites.org
January 10, 2025 at 12:21 AM
From Archana Aravindan: How can we find the gravitational waves that form when an IMBH and SMBH merge? Read ahead to find out how we can prepare to detect these supposedly common mergers using LISA! 🔭✨
astrobites.org/2025/01/09/g...
astrobites.org/2025/01/09/g...
This is basically what drives IMBH searches
February 13, 2024 at 3:40 AM
This is basically what drives IMBH searches
Hoo boy. I was trying to stay away from politics but here goes:
There’s no strong evidence for IMBH in regular globular clusters; there’s some evidence for an IMBH in one object that is probably a stripped dwarf galaxy nucleus that is often labeled a globular cluster. I do not expect IMBH in
There’s no strong evidence for IMBH in regular globular clusters; there’s some evidence for an IMBH in one object that is probably a stripped dwarf galaxy nucleus that is often labeled a globular cluster. I do not expect IMBH in
November 5, 2024 at 11:04 PM
Hoo boy. I was trying to stay away from politics but here goes:
There’s no strong evidence for IMBH in regular globular clusters; there’s some evidence for an IMBH in one object that is probably a stripped dwarf galaxy nucleus that is often labeled a globular cluster. I do not expect IMBH in
There’s no strong evidence for IMBH in regular globular clusters; there’s some evidence for an IMBH in one object that is probably a stripped dwarf galaxy nucleus that is often labeled a globular cluster. I do not expect IMBH in
🧵
On 10 July 2024, the evidence of a rare, intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) in Omega Centauri was announced.
On 18 July 2024, a study from a different research team announced that signs of an IMBH have been found in the IRS 13 star cluster, right near Sgr A*, the SMBH at the core
🔭 🧪 #galactic
On 10 July 2024, the evidence of a rare, intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) in Omega Centauri was announced.
On 18 July 2024, a study from a different research team announced that signs of an IMBH have been found in the IRS 13 star cluster, right near Sgr A*, the SMBH at the core
🔭 🧪 #galactic
July 21, 2025 at 8:33 PM
🧵
On 10 July 2024, the evidence of a rare, intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) in Omega Centauri was announced.
On 18 July 2024, a study from a different research team announced that signs of an IMBH have been found in the IRS 13 star cluster, right near Sgr A*, the SMBH at the core
🔭 🧪 #galactic
On 10 July 2024, the evidence of a rare, intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) in Omega Centauri was announced.
On 18 July 2024, a study from a different research team announced that signs of an IMBH have been found in the IRS 13 star cluster, right near Sgr A*, the SMBH at the core
🔭 🧪 #galactic
SchwarzeLöcher …
#DasZentrumDerMacht …
Faszination #Entropie, Singularität, #Nirvana, #Tod.
„Die langsamen #Hyperschnelläufer könnten durch Interaktion mit dem intermediären Schwarzen Loch (IMBH)
ausgeschleudert worden sein.“
#SagittariusA*
© Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics
#DasZentrumDerMacht …
Faszination #Entropie, Singularität, #Nirvana, #Tod.
„Die langsamen #Hyperschnelläufer könnten durch Interaktion mit dem intermediären Schwarzen Loch (IMBH)
ausgeschleudert worden sein.“
#SagittariusA*
© Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics
April 6, 2025 at 12:40 PM
SchwarzeLöcher …
#DasZentrumDerMacht …
Faszination #Entropie, Singularität, #Nirvana, #Tod.
„Die langsamen #Hyperschnelläufer könnten durch Interaktion mit dem intermediären Schwarzen Loch (IMBH)
ausgeschleudert worden sein.“
#SagittariusA*
© Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics
#DasZentrumDerMacht …
Faszination #Entropie, Singularität, #Nirvana, #Tod.
„Die langsamen #Hyperschnelläufer könnten durch Interaktion mit dem intermediären Schwarzen Loch (IMBH)
ausgeschleudert worden sein.“
#SagittariusA*
© Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics
Hubble Observation of Intermediate-Mass Black Hole
Image date: 31 March 2020, 19:00
This Hubble Space Telescope image identified the location of an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH), weighing over 50 000 times the mass of our Sun (making it much smaller than the supermassive black holes found...
Image date: 31 March 2020, 19:00
This Hubble Space Telescope image identified the location of an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH), weighing over 50 000 times the mass of our Sun (making it much smaller than the supermassive black holes found...
July 2, 2026 at 12:55 AM
Hubble Observation of Intermediate-Mass Black Hole
Image date: 31 March 2020, 19:00
This Hubble Space Telescope image identified the location of an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH), weighing over 50 000 times the mass of our Sun (making it much smaller than the supermassive black holes found...
Image date: 31 March 2020, 19:00
This Hubble Space Telescope image identified the location of an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH), weighing over 50 000 times the mass of our Sun (making it much smaller than the supermassive black holes found...
Eun-jin Shin is giving a talk on IMBH formation in dwarf galaxies during IAUS398/MODEST-25. 🔭🧪
June 18, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Eun-jin Shin is giving a talk on IMBH formation in dwarf galaxies during IAUS398/MODEST-25. 🔭🧪
Globular clusters bc the velocity dispersion is too large; I DO expect IMBH in at least some dwarf galaxies, depending on SMBH seed formation mechanisms (I’m relatively agnostic about that). However I expect IMBH to form in the accretion disks of AGN—active galactic nuclei (but I’m literally one of
November 5, 2024 at 11:07 PM
Globular clusters bc the velocity dispersion is too large; I DO expect IMBH in at least some dwarf galaxies, depending on SMBH seed formation mechanisms (I’m relatively agnostic about that). However I expect IMBH to form in the accretion disks of AGN—active galactic nuclei (but I’m literally one of
GW231123 was special for a few reasons:
First, it's an IMBH-IMBH merger (intermediate mass black hole! both >=100xMsun).
That's rare & restricts where and how such an event might have happened.
First, it's an IMBH-IMBH merger (intermediate mass black hole! both >=100xMsun).
That's rare & restricts where and how such an event might have happened.
August 20, 2025 at 3:31 PM
GW231123 was special for a few reasons:
First, it's an IMBH-IMBH merger (intermediate mass black hole! both >=100xMsun).
That's rare & restricts where and how such an event might have happened.
First, it's an IMBH-IMBH merger (intermediate mass black hole! both >=100xMsun).
That's rare & restricts where and how such an event might have happened.
...in the early universe.
Furthermore this IMBH candidate would be closer to Earth than Sagittarius A*, the SMBH in the centre of our Milky Way: the first would be distant only 17 000 light-years, the latter is 26 000 light-years away.
6/7
Furthermore this IMBH candidate would be closer to Earth than Sagittarius A*, the SMBH in the centre of our Milky Way: the first would be distant only 17 000 light-years, the latter is 26 000 light-years away.
6/7
January 5, 2026 at 11:38 PM
...in the early universe.
Furthermore this IMBH candidate would be closer to Earth than Sagittarius A*, the SMBH in the centre of our Milky Way: the first would be distant only 17 000 light-years, the latter is 26 000 light-years away.
6/7
Furthermore this IMBH candidate would be closer to Earth than Sagittarius A*, the SMBH in the centre of our Milky Way: the first would be distant only 17 000 light-years, the latter is 26 000 light-years away.
6/7
🩶New Song🩶
Be feat. #SAROS
YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=imbh...
NicoNico: www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm4591...
#VOCALOID #vocanew #vocaloPost #SynthV_SAROS #SynthesizerV #SynthV
Be feat. #SAROS
YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=imbh...
NicoNico: www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm4591...
#VOCALOID #vocanew #vocaloPost #SynthV_SAROS #SynthesizerV #SynthV
Be / Takoyaki Donuts feat. SAROS
YouTube video by Takoyaki Donuts
www.youtube.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:49 AM
🩶New Song🩶
Be feat. #SAROS
YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=imbh...
NicoNico: www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm4591...
#VOCALOID #vocanew #vocaloPost #SynthV_SAROS #SynthesizerV #SynthV
Be feat. #SAROS
YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=imbh...
NicoNico: www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm4591...
#VOCALOID #vocanew #vocaloPost #SynthV_SAROS #SynthesizerV #SynthV
Une autre étude avait montré en 2024 (Pechetti et al) que les étoiles du centre étaient contre rotatives et n'indiquaient pas la présence d'un TN intermédiaire (IMBH).
Certes ces deux études semblent se contredire sur un point, mais sont d'accord sur le fait que le mystère du IMBH perdure !
4/5
Certes ces deux études semblent se contredire sur un point, mais sont d'accord sur le fait que le mystère du IMBH perdure !
4/5
December 15, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Une autre étude avait montré en 2024 (Pechetti et al) que les étoiles du centre étaient contre rotatives et n'indiquaient pas la présence d'un TN intermédiaire (IMBH).
Certes ces deux études semblent se contredire sur un point, mais sont d'accord sur le fait que le mystère du IMBH perdure !
4/5
Certes ces deux études semblent se contredire sur un point, mais sont d'accord sur le fait que le mystère du IMBH perdure !
4/5
This is so random and wild. I’ve just been explaining the differences between canonical pulsars vs. MSPs to an Oscar winner. Even explained some of the cool new IMBH Omega Cent results to him and he is fascinated by it!
I must let the authors of the paper know about this ……
I must let the authors of the paper know about this ……
July 10, 2024 at 6:38 PM
This is so random and wild. I’ve just been explaining the differences between canonical pulsars vs. MSPs to an Oscar winner. Even explained some of the cool new IMBH Omega Cent results to him and he is fascinated by it!
I must let the authors of the paper know about this ……
I must let the authors of the paper know about this ……
🧵1/6
In case you missed it 3 years ago, know that, using Gaia EDR3 & Hubble data, astronomers found a dark central mass in the closest globular cluster M4.
It could be an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) or a dark population of stellar remnants .🔭🧪⚛️
science.nasa.gov/missions/hub...
#astronomy
In case you missed it 3 years ago, know that, using Gaia EDR3 & Hubble data, astronomers found a dark central mass in the closest globular cluster M4.
It could be an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) or a dark population of stellar remnants .🔭🧪⚛️
science.nasa.gov/missions/hub...
#astronomy
May 27, 2026 at 3:45 PM
🧵1/6
In case you missed it 3 years ago, know that, using Gaia EDR3 & Hubble data, astronomers found a dark central mass in the closest globular cluster M4.
It could be an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) or a dark population of stellar remnants .🔭🧪⚛️
science.nasa.gov/missions/hub...
#astronomy
In case you missed it 3 years ago, know that, using Gaia EDR3 & Hubble data, astronomers found a dark central mass in the closest globular cluster M4.
It could be an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) or a dark population of stellar remnants .🔭🧪⚛️
science.nasa.gov/missions/hub...
#astronomy
*** SCIENCE GOODIE*** 🔭🧪📡
A few weeks back wrote an article about the news of the Intermediate-Mass Black Hole inferred at the centre of Omega Cent. and wrote how we can use millisecond pulsars to really zone in on it.
Well, a team did this & say it might NOT be an IMBH!
arxiv.org/abs/2408.00939
A few weeks back wrote an article about the news of the Intermediate-Mass Black Hole inferred at the centre of Omega Cent. and wrote how we can use millisecond pulsars to really zone in on it.
Well, a team did this & say it might NOT be an IMBH!
arxiv.org/abs/2408.00939
Astronomers suggest that Omega Centauri, a massive globular cluster orbiting our Galaxy, likely has a 20,000 solar mass black hole in its core.
@cosmicrami.bsky.social spoke with Uni. of QLD's Dr Baumgardt, a co-author on the paper.
www.spaceaustralia.com/news/omega-c...
📷 ESO 🔭🧪
#SpaceAustralia
@cosmicrami.bsky.social spoke with Uni. of QLD's Dr Baumgardt, a co-author on the paper.
www.spaceaustralia.com/news/omega-c...
📷 ESO 🔭🧪
#SpaceAustralia
August 6, 2024 at 4:05 AM
*** SCIENCE GOODIE*** 🔭🧪📡
A few weeks back wrote an article about the news of the Intermediate-Mass Black Hole inferred at the centre of Omega Cent. and wrote how we can use millisecond pulsars to really zone in on it.
Well, a team did this & say it might NOT be an IMBH!
arxiv.org/abs/2408.00939
A few weeks back wrote an article about the news of the Intermediate-Mass Black Hole inferred at the centre of Omega Cent. and wrote how we can use millisecond pulsars to really zone in on it.
Well, a team did this & say it might NOT be an IMBH!
arxiv.org/abs/2408.00939
5/
within IRS 13.
Based on observations with the VLT, the ALMA and Chandra telescopes, researchers favor the 2nd way, i.e. the presence of an IMBH at the core of IRS 13.
They were, in fact, able to observe peculiar X-rays and ionized gas rotating in a ring around the assumed location of the IMBH.
within IRS 13.
Based on observations with the VLT, the ALMA and Chandra telescopes, researchers favor the 2nd way, i.e. the presence of an IMBH at the core of IRS 13.
They were, in fact, able to observe peculiar X-rays and ionized gas rotating in a ring around the assumed location of the IMBH.
July 21, 2025 at 8:33 PM
5/
within IRS 13.
Based on observations with the VLT, the ALMA and Chandra telescopes, researchers favor the 2nd way, i.e. the presence of an IMBH at the core of IRS 13.
They were, in fact, able to observe peculiar X-rays and ionized gas rotating in a ring around the assumed location of the IMBH.
within IRS 13.
Based on observations with the VLT, the ALMA and Chandra telescopes, researchers favor the 2nd way, i.e. the presence of an IMBH at the core of IRS 13.
They were, in fact, able to observe peculiar X-rays and ionized gas rotating in a ring around the assumed location of the IMBH.
Астрономы заметили в карликовой галактике UGCA 320 любопытного кандидата в блуждающую черную дыру промежуточной массы. На ее существование указал механизм аккреции Бонди — Хойла — Литтлтона, впервые получивший наблюдательное подтверждение
https://nplus1.ru/news/2026/09/14/imbh-ugca-320
https://nplus1.ru/news/2026/09/14/imbh-ugca-320
September 14, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Астрономы заметили в карликовой галактике UGCA 320 любопытного кандидата в блуждающую черную дыру промежуточной массы. На ее существование указал механизм аккреции Бонди — Хойла — Литтлтона, впервые получивший наблюдательное подтверждение
https://nplus1.ru/news/2026/09/14/imbh-ugca-320
https://nplus1.ru/news/2026/09/14/imbh-ugca-320
6/6
In the meantime, no JWST or other major follow-up observations specific to this candidate have been published, as far as I’m aware.
M4 continues to be one of the most interesting nearby targets for the IMBH search, but the decisive evidence is still ahead of us.
In the meantime, no JWST or other major follow-up observations specific to this candidate have been published, as far as I’m aware.
M4 continues to be one of the most interesting nearby targets for the IMBH search, but the decisive evidence is still ahead of us.
May 27, 2026 at 3:45 PM
6/6
In the meantime, no JWST or other major follow-up observations specific to this candidate have been published, as far as I’m aware.
M4 continues to be one of the most interesting nearby targets for the IMBH search, but the decisive evidence is still ahead of us.
In the meantime, no JWST or other major follow-up observations specific to this candidate have been published, as far as I’m aware.
M4 continues to be one of the most interesting nearby targets for the IMBH search, but the decisive evidence is still ahead of us.
Астрономы заметили в карликовой галактике UGCA 320 любопытного кандидата в блуждающую черную дыру промежуточной массы. На ее существование указал механизм аккреции Бонди — Хойла — Литтлтона
https://nplus1.ru/news/2026/09/14/imbh-ugca-320
#главноезанеделю
https://nplus1.ru/news/2026/09/14/imbh-ugca-320
#главноезанеделю
September 20, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Астрономы заметили в карликовой галактике UGCA 320 любопытного кандидата в блуждающую черную дыру промежуточной массы. На ее существование указал механизм аккреции Бонди — Хойла — Литтлтона
https://nplus1.ru/news/2026/09/14/imbh-ugca-320
#главноезанеделю
https://nplus1.ru/news/2026/09/14/imbh-ugca-320
#главноезанеделю
5/6
We are awaiting Gaia DR4, currently scheduled for 2 Dec 2026.
While DR4 will include improved data for crowded fields like M4, it is not yet clear whether the new astrometry and proper motions will be sufficient to distinguish between a single IMBH and a population of stellar remnants.
We are awaiting Gaia DR4, currently scheduled for 2 Dec 2026.
While DR4 will include improved data for crowded fields like M4, it is not yet clear whether the new astrometry and proper motions will be sufficient to distinguish between a single IMBH and a population of stellar remnants.
May 27, 2026 at 3:45 PM
5/6
We are awaiting Gaia DR4, currently scheduled for 2 Dec 2026.
While DR4 will include improved data for crowded fields like M4, it is not yet clear whether the new astrometry and proper motions will be sufficient to distinguish between a single IMBH and a population of stellar remnants.
We are awaiting Gaia DR4, currently scheduled for 2 Dec 2026.
While DR4 will include improved data for crowded fields like M4, it is not yet clear whether the new astrometry and proper motions will be sufficient to distinguish between a single IMBH and a population of stellar remnants.
Here’s one of the bits of news that I will be writing up about … this is not new, the arXiv preprint was out a little while back …
But still this is a very neat find!
Reporting of an IMBH inferred through stellar velocities in Omega Cent!
Now, we just need some millisecond pulsars around it 🤞🏽
🧪🔭
But still this is a very neat find!
Reporting of an IMBH inferred through stellar velocities in Omega Cent!
Now, we just need some millisecond pulsars around it 🤞🏽
🧪🔭
Astronomers have identified the nearest major black hole to Earth—weighing an estimated 8,200 solar masses—using Hubble images. It is in the heart of the globular star cluster Omega Centauri, located 17,700 light-years away: bit.ly/3W9nLcn 🔭 🧪
July 10, 2024 at 3:17 PM
Here’s one of the bits of news that I will be writing up about … this is not new, the arXiv preprint was out a little while back …
But still this is a very neat find!
Reporting of an IMBH inferred through stellar velocities in Omega Cent!
Now, we just need some millisecond pulsars around it 🤞🏽
🧪🔭
But still this is a very neat find!
Reporting of an IMBH inferred through stellar velocities in Omega Cent!
Now, we just need some millisecond pulsars around it 🤞🏽
🧪🔭
7/
The data set examined in this work spans nearly two decades.
With upcoming observations from the JWST and the Enhanced Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (ERIS), researchers will test their hypothesis about the presumed presence of an IMBH and further verify the nature of the cluster members.
The data set examined in this work spans nearly two decades.
With upcoming observations from the JWST and the Enhanced Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (ERIS), researchers will test their hypothesis about the presumed presence of an IMBH and further verify the nature of the cluster members.
July 21, 2025 at 8:33 PM
7/
The data set examined in this work spans nearly two decades.
With upcoming observations from the JWST and the Enhanced Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (ERIS), researchers will test their hypothesis about the presumed presence of an IMBH and further verify the nature of the cluster members.
The data set examined in this work spans nearly two decades.
With upcoming observations from the JWST and the Enhanced Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (ERIS), researchers will test their hypothesis about the presumed presence of an IMBH and further verify the nature of the cluster members.
The object in the green circle is probably TDE 2025abcr (position within 0.4 arcsec), which is a tidal disruption event (TDE; star eaten by black hole) around a candidate intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH).
The TDE is off-center of the galaxy nucleus. #JWST MIRI (F560W) image from program 12485.
The TDE is off-center of the galaxy nucleus. #JWST MIRI (F560W) image from program 12485.
December 17, 2025 at 8:06 AM
The object in the green circle is probably TDE 2025abcr (position within 0.4 arcsec), which is a tidal disruption event (TDE; star eaten by black hole) around a candidate intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH).
The TDE is off-center of the galaxy nucleus. #JWST MIRI (F560W) image from program 12485.
The TDE is off-center of the galaxy nucleus. #JWST MIRI (F560W) image from program 12485.