November 6, 2016

Artistic representation of the galactic encounter that generated B3 1715+425 (Image Bill Saxton, NRAO/AUI/NSF)

An article published in the “Astrophysical Journal” describes the discovery of the remnants of a galaxy of which only a small core remained after passing through a larger galaxy. A team of astronomers used the VLBA radio telescope to find this unique object cataloged as B3 1715+425 with a diameter that is now only 3,000 light-years and a supermassive black hole at its center.