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Two Supermassive Black Holes Set to Collide in 100 Years

4/17/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Astronomers have found two supermassive black holes in a death spiral at Markarian 501, about 500 million light-years away.
The black holes each weigh between 100 million and one billion solar masses.
They are separated by 250 to 540 times the Earth–Sun distance.
They orbit every 121 days and form an Einstein ring.
Researchers predict the black holes will collide in about 100 years and emit gravitational waves.

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Story summary

Astronomers have found two supermassive black holes in a death spiral at Markarian 501, about 500 million light-years away.
The black holes each weigh between 100 million and one billion solar masses.
They are separated by 250 to 540 times the Earth–Sun distance.
They orbit every 121 days and form an Einstein ring.
Researchers predict the black holes will collide in about 100 years and emit gravitational waves.