Most Extreme Space Discoveries of 2012

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This artist’s concept shows the newfound alien planet Alpha Centauri Bb, found in a three-star system just 4.3 light-years from Earth. CREDIT: ESO/L. Calçada View full size image

SPACE.com

Astronomical discoveries in 2012 have reshaped what we know about the universe and pushed some instruments to the very limits of their observing power.

Scientists discovered a galaxy that harbors an enormous central black hole 17 billion times more massive than the sun. Another research group spotted a scorching-hot rocky planet in the closest star system to our own. Meanwhile, the records for most massive galaxy cluster and most distant galaxy were shattered.

Here’s a brief rundown of some of the year’s most extreme and exciting cosmic finds.

Most monstrous black hole

Observers probably don’t want to get too close to NGC 1277 or its supermassive black hole, which takes up a large portion of the galaxy itself. The central black hole is 17 billion times more massive than the sun and makes up 14 percent of its host galaxy’s mass, compared to the usual 0.1 percent.

Researchers were so flummoxed by the black hole’s size that they took an extra year to double-check their calculations before publishing their results.

Read More HERE

Truth Is Scary

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