A tiny dwarf galaxy may be hosting a supermassive black hole, an unusual occurrence that could provide clues as to how galaxies were formed in the first place.
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope observed the galaxy, located around 30 million light-years away from Earth, and found indications of a supermassive black hole at its core.
While it is known that nearly all galaxies the size of, or larger than, the Milky Way harbor a supermassive black hole at their core, there is less information about smaller galaxies. Astronomers believe that there is a correlation between the size of a galaxy and that of the black hole it is hosting — the bigger the galaxy, the bigger the black hole.
Related: Black Holes of the Universe (Gallery)
However, this galaxy, dubbed ESO 495-21, is proving that size doesn't always matter. The galaxy measures at only 3% the size of the Milky Way, and its black hole is over a million times the mass of our sun, while the Milky Way's black hole is four million times the sun's mass, according to a statement from NASA and the European Space Agency, who jointly operate the Hubble Space Telescope.
Due to this unusual pairing, the dwarf galaxy may be useful in learning more about the origins of galaxies and how they evolve over time, according to the statement.
ESO 495-21 is also known for being a starburst galaxy, meaning that it forms a large number of stars at high rates (1,000 times faster than the Milky Way.)
Due to its small size, irregular shape and star cluster formation, astronomers believe that the dwarf galaxy is one of the first to have formed in the cosmos. Therefore, finding a supermassive black hole at its core could indicate that black holes were formed first in the cosmos while the galaxies evolved around them, according to the statement.
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