back to article INSATIABLE black hole in Milky Way's heart crams hot gas into cavity

Space boffins have suggested the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy may have a powerful appetite for hot gas. The European Space Agency's Herschel telescope has captured far-infrared images which appear to show the black hole sucking in a huge cloud of gas. One astronomer said it looked as if the hole was " …

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  1. Bill Neal
    WTF?

    This is new?

    I thought this was already generally accepted to be the case. Is it only news because there is a new pixelated image of it?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: This is new?

      We still speak about women although it's not new either.

  2. Harry Stottle

    Much greater discovery masked by headline

    apparently, according to the article, astronomers have identified the Milky Way as the centre of our universe. That's MUCH bigger news than a black hole sucking in a gas cloud...

    1. Christoph
      WTF?

      Re: Much greater discovery masked by headline

      How is "the end of the universe" the same as "the centre of our universe"?

    2. Annihilator
      Thumb Down

      Re: Much greater discovery masked by headline

      ... and it's quite clearly a Douglas Adams play on the story.

    3. Harry Stottle

      Re: Much greater discovery masked by headline

      ah, they've cheated!

      the first sentence did read (until a couple of minutes ago)

      "Space boffins have suggested the supermassive black hole at the centre of our Universe..."

  3. ian 22
    Pint

    The drain at the centre of the galaxy

    Existentially, we are all just swirling around the crapper's bowl. Philosophically what does it mean that the universe has a dark heart?

    Questions too deep for me. Beerman, another pint!

  4. This post has been deleted by its author

  5. harmjschoonhoven
    Unhappy

    Bootnote

    The <real> news is the death of Herschel.

    http://www.esa.int/For_Media/Press_Releases/Herschel_closes_its_eyes_on_the_Universe

    1. Mark Allen

      Re: Bootnote

      http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/04/30/esa_retires_herschel/

  6. Martin Budden Silver badge

    Does it have a name?

    It seems a bit silly to keep saying "the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy" every time. It needs a name.

    Kevin?

    1. Wzrd1 Silver badge

      Re: Does it have a name?

      The article mentions its name. Sag A*, aka Sagittarius A-star.

      AKA that really big bugger one should stay well clear of, it's pure trouble up close.

      1. kyza

        Re: Does it have a name?

        Hmm.

        Sag A *

        Sag a star.

        Saggy star

        Kerry Katona

        We should call the SMBh at the galactic centre Kerry Katona.

        1. Christoph

          Re: Does it have a name?

          Star A Star. It's that Lensman's headquarters, obviously.

  7. Peter Johnston 1
    Facepalm

    Time for an end to verbal skeumorphism

    Perhaps it is because looking at data all day is so boring, or that geeks watch too much sci-fi, but "devouring"?!!

    If there is a pressure drop, things move to fill the vacuum. That is physics, not rampaging and ravenous behaviour by a sentient being.

    Perhaps it is time for a move away from verbal skeuomorphism.

    (A skeuomorph is a physical ornament or design on an object made to resemble another material or technique - e.g. Apple virtual buttons made to look like domed, chrome edged physical buttons).

    1. Robert Helpmann??
      Childcatcher

      Re: Time for an end to verbal skeumorphism

      So a "verbal skeuomorph" would be a "lexiomorph?" We are not dealing with pottery here.

      1. Francis Boyle Silver badge

        or maybe just a 'metaphor'

        Are we going to put and end to Shakespeare as well?

  8. mhenriday
    Boffin

    «Black hole burping out x-rays» ?

    No, no ; black holes are far too well-bred to do anything like that. A little Hawking radiation perhaps - and even that's never been conclusively observed - but certainly nothing so gross as x-rays !...

    Henri

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