A supermassive black hole (SMBH) is the largest type of black hole, on the order of hundreds of thousands to billions of solar masses (M☉), and is found in the center of almost all massive galaxies.[1][2]
This is the answer I expected. Can't say all galaxies since we have only observed a tiny portion of the universe. What if there was a galaxy out there that didn't have a super massive black hole? Time and more research will tell.mfb said:Wikipedia answers this with the first sentence of the article, including two references:
Thank you for providing that article, Chronos. I enjoyed the read. Do you believe or have knowledge of the structure of ancient galaxies? I can't imagine there being a black hole, let alone a SMBH at the center of the earliest known galaxies. I'm talking of galaxies a few hundred million years after the universe came into existence.Chronos said:The prevailing opinion is a very high percentage of galaxies harbor an SMBH. See http://brainlagoon.com/2014/04/06/does-every-galaxy-have-a-black-hole-at-the-center/ for f discussion
Thanks for the link Chronos.Chronos said:The prevailing opinion is a very high percentage of galaxies harbor an SMBH. See http://brainlagoon.com/2014/04/06/does-every-galaxy-have-a-black-hole-at-the-center/ for f discussion
Thank you for responding, Chronos, and thank you for providing these documents. I never thought of a black hole directly collapsing. I'll read these and find out for myself!Chronos said:Direct collapse black holes remain a candidte possibility. Generally this scenario permits SMBH to form very rapidly in the early universe and anchor the formation of galaxies. You may find these papers of interest:http://arxiv.org/abs/0709.0545, Did supermassive black holes form by direct collapse?; http://arxiv.org/abs/1304.1369here http://arxiv.org/abs/1304.1369, Supermassive Black Hole Formation at High Redshifts via Direct Collapse: Physical Processes in the Early Stage; and http://arxiv.org/abs/1403.5267, The First Billion Years project: birthplaces of direct collapse black hole
A galactic black hole is a region in space with a gravitational pull so strong that it traps everything, including light, within its event horizon. This results in a black void that cannot be seen directly.
Galactic black holes are formed when a massive star collapses in on itself at the end of its life cycle. As the star runs out of fuel, it can no longer support its own weight and collapses, creating a black hole.
There are three main types of galactic black holes: stellar, intermediate, and supermassive. Stellar black holes are the smallest and are formed from the collapse of a single star. Intermediate black holes are larger and are thought to form from the merging of multiple stellar black holes. Supermassive black holes are the largest and are found at the center of most galaxies.
Scientists use a variety of methods to study galactic black holes, including observing the effects of their gravitational pull on surrounding objects, measuring the radiation emitted from the black hole, and studying the motion of stars and other objects around the black hole.
Studying galactic black holes can help scientists understand the fundamental laws of physics, as well as the formation and evolution of galaxies. It can also provide insights into the life cycles of stars and the role of black holes in shaping the universe.