NASA finds “unprecedented” black hole cluster near Andromeda’s central bulge

X-ray image of Andromed's core with black hole candidates circled

Nasa

NASA has discovered an unprecedentedly large cluster of black holes in our nearest galactic neighbor, Andromeda.

The 26 black hole candidates were spotted with the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which made more than 150 observations spread over 13 years.

Each of the black holes was formed after a star collapsed in on itself. Now, as they suck in material from other stars that orbit or pass nearby, the material gives off X-rays as it is consumed. These X-rays are what Chandra has spotted.