NASA observatory helps UCI measure black holes

UCI scientists and other astronomers have developed a new method to determine the size of some of the universe’s biggest black holes, officials said.

Using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, the scientists can measure black holes that produces the same results as the more traditional method.

Using Chandra, scientists can determine size: The higher the temperature peak, the bigger the black hole. The traditional method of measuring black holes involves measuring the distance of stars or gas in a disk near large black holes.

The discovery helps scientists and astronomers who have been searching for other ways to measure the space phenomenon in order to confirm earlier findings and to provide further research.

Philip Humphrey, an assistant project scientist in the department of physics and astronomy at UCI, led the study with others.

— Daniel Tedford