Last fall, astronomers announced the discovery of a pair of merging neutron stars that generated gravitational waves.
This first-of-its-kind result likely did something else spectacular: created a black hole.
Scientists observed the source with NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory in the days, weeks, and months after the gravitational waves were detected.
These X-ray data help rule out a new, heavier neutron star formed as a result of the merger.
Instead, their research implies that a new black hole with the lowest known mass was formed.
Astronomers will continue to use Chandra and other telescopes to see what happens next with this important cosmic object.
