Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Canes Venatici (CVn)  ·  Contains:  NGC 4395
NGC 4395  UGC  7524, Cheman
NGC 4395  UGC  7524
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NGC 4395 UGC 7524

NGC 4395  UGC  7524, Cheman
NGC 4395  UGC  7524
Powered byPixInsight

NGC 4395 UGC 7524

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The mass of the smallest black hole known to exist at the centre of an active galaxy has been determined by an international team of astronomers, who argue that their result is “the best direct mass measurement for a galaxy of this size”. The researchers also say that their study could provide important clues about how the most massive black holes form.

The black hole lies 14 million light-years away in the spiral galaxy NGC 4395, which has an active galactic nucleus (AGN) that glows with radiation produced by matter falling into the black hole. NGC 4395 is one of the least luminous active galaxies known. This suggests that its black hole is relatively small compared to most other AGN’s.

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NGC 4395  UGC  7524, Cheman