First Science From A Virtual Observatory

mindpixel writes "I first mentioned Virtual Observatories in my July 2000 Slashdot interview. Now, nearly four years later, Spacetelescope.org is reporting a European team has used the Astrophysical Virtual Observatory (AVO) to find 30 supermassive black holes that had previously escaped detection behind masking dust clouds. The identification of this large population of long-sought 'hidden' black holes is the first scientific discovery to emerge from a Virtual Observatory. The result suggests that astronomers may have underestimated the number of powerful supermassive black holes by as much as a factor of five."

Comments

Is there anybody Out There ?

[beatleadam]

The identification of this large population of long-sought 'hidden' black holes is the first scientific discovery to emerge from a Virtual Observatory

While not entirely a SETI oriented comment or question, I guess I was just wondering/typing out loud...Remember the Dinosaur? :-) Just made me wonder who is good enough to pull a joke like that on "us".

Re:Just what we needed

[Mr. Bad Example]

> I don't mess around with black holes.

Maybe that's why you're still single.