This is a galactic-sized problem.
Scientists revealed Tuesday that galaxy PBC J2333.9-2343 has been reclassified after discovering a supermassive black hole that is currently facing our solar system, reports Royal Astronomical Society.
“We started to study this galaxy as it showed peculiar properties. Our hypothesis was that the relativistic jet of its supermassive black hole had changed its direction, and to confirm that idea we had to carry out a lot of observations,” said Dr. Lorena Hernández-García.
“The fact that we see the nucleus is not feeding the lobes anymore means that they are very old. They are the relics of past activity, whereas the structures located closer to the nucleus represent younger and active jets.”
According to the society, the galaxy — about 657 million light-years away — was initially classified as a radio galaxy but scientists realized that the space phenomena had rotated 90 degrees and is now pointing its center towards Earth.
Researchers at the Royal Astronomical Society now reveal that the galaxy stretches nearly 4 million light-years across — nearly 40 times the size of the Milky Way.
Scientists are currently unsure what sparked the change in direction, though several people believe that PBC J2333.9-2343 collided with another galaxy, resulting in the shift of direction.
The Post reached out to the Royal Astronomical Society for comment.
It is also unclear how the direction of the black hole will affect our galaxy.
This black hole is not the only threat the Earth faces.
According to new data, three near-Earth asteroids (NEA) were discovered in the inner solar system and could pose a serious risk to Earth.
“Our twilight survey is scouring the area within the orbits of Earth and Venus for asteroids,” said the paper’s lead author and astronomer Scott Sheppard in a NOIR Lab press release that announced the findings Monday. “So far we have found two large near-Earth asteroids that are about 1 kilometer across, a size that we call planet killers.”