The Largest Black Hole in the Universe - Size Comparison

Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell2 minutes read

Black holes, ranging from tiny Primordial Black Holes to Ultramassive Black Holes, are the largest entities in the universe, capable of continuous growth and various functions. Their existence and properties play a crucial role in understanding the structure and dynamics of galaxies, with Supermassive Black Holes like Sagittarius A Star and TON 618 being prime examples.

Insights

  • Black holes vary in size, from tiny Primordial Black Holes to massive Ultramassive Black Holes like TON 618, highlighting the diverse range of these cosmic entities.
  • Supermassive Black Holes, such as Sagittarius A Star, are common at the center of galaxies but do not solely dictate gravitational forces, as dark matter also significantly influences galactic dynamics.

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Recent questions

  • What are black holes?

    Massive objects with no size limit, growing endlessly.

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Summary

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"Exploring the Universe's Massive Black Holes"

  • Black holes are the largest things in the universe, with no physical size limit, able to grow endlessly.
  • Different kinds of black holes exist, from tiny Primordial Black Holes to the largest in the universe.
  • Primordial Black Holes, possibly the oldest objects, could be the mysterious dark matter holding galaxies together.
  • Stellar Black Holes are created by compressing matter, with the smallest known being 16 km in diameter.
  • Stellar Black Holes can grow by devouring stars or merging with each other.
  • Supermassive Black Holes are found at the center of galaxies, with Sagittarius A Star in the Milky Way having 4 million solar masses.
  • Supermassive Black Holes are not the main gravitational force in galaxies, with dark matter playing a significant role.
  • Ultramassive Black Holes are the largest, with OJ 287 containing an 18 billion solar mass black hole.
  • TON 618 is possibly the largest single body in the universe, with 66 billion solar masses, shining as bright as a hundred trillion stars.
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