Massive Black Holes
We just watched a show about Massive Black Holes on the Science Channel. WOW. We learned that there is a massive black hole in the center of our and possibly every galaxy out in space. There are also 10’s of millions stellar black holes in our galaxy as well! They said that they are pretty sure that it is in its dormant stage at this point. Black holes are basically where galaxies came from, they were hypothesizing. It was so interesting! Really made me wish I had paid more attention/understood those science classes in school. 🙂
There were so many terms I did know, however thanks to Star Trek and Farscape. Kinda sad that I know a little bit about science fact through science fiction. Now I have so many questions! What if our black hole starts sucking up stars again? How will it affect our solar system? Would we even know that we were being sucked in? Or would we all be gone because Earth started to spin faster? How big is the universe? Does it end? Are there other planets out there like ours? Will we ever know?
Right now I really can appreciate how small and insignificant we and our planet are in the grand scheme of the universe. I know that we have to focus on what we are at this point and where we are, but to see those pictures of all those other galaxies with God only knows how many other solar systems and planets in them…..WOW. Makes an impact, if you’re into that sort of thing and all.
“What if our black hole starts sucking up stars again? How will it affect our solar system? Would we even know that we were being sucked in?”
I saw this show too-it was fantastic!
Never fear. We are about 35,000 light years from the galactic center. If it started sucking today, we wouldn’t have a clue until 35,000 years from now. Of course, it could have resumed “feeding” 34, 999 years ago, in which case we’d see it “turn on” in about a year.
If it did go active again, the stuff getting sucked in would be within about 1 light year (actualy, a few light weeks) of the galactic center, so we don’t have to worry about getting sucked into our center. I’m pretty sure that the radiation from the galactic center would have a negligible impact on us, due both to our distance, and the enourmous amount of intervening shielding material (aka stars).
Now, when we collide with M31 (Andromeda Galaxy) in about 4 billion years, all bets are off. We could get grabbed by M31’s hole, or a passing star could fling us inot either galactic center, or even out of the galaxy entirely.