Black Hole Found Inside Globular Cluster

acidrain writes "Contrary to the prediction of some computer models, scientists have found a black hole resting peacefully in a dense nest of stars called a globular cluster. Previously discovered black holes are either similar in size to a large star, or super massive holes which are millions of times bigger than a star is able to remain stable. This finding indicates there may be an intermediate size range of holes residing within these star clusters."

Comments

I wonder if time is dilated there...

[Progman3K]

If you lived on a planet of the star closest to the black hole, would the passing of your time be measurably different from ours?

Re:Black hole do not change their mass

[SuiteSisterMary]

(note: this is from memory)

Our sun is defined as 'one solar mass.'

Very basically, a star's tendancy to collapse in on itself is countered by the fact that it's a big old nuclear fireball. As it runs out of hydrogen to burn, it starts to collapse in on itself again, until it starts burning helium. Once the helium is gone, it starts to collapse again.

Any given star of less than 1.4 solar masses will stop collapsing and turn into a white dwarf, due to the fact that it's gravity isn't enough to overcome the repulsion of electrons. (If this white dwarf gets some new material, say, by having a red giant close enough that it can gather material from it, it will explode, giving us a supernova.)

Any given star of greater than 1.4 solar masses but less than 3 solar masses will overcome this, but get halted by inability to squish neutrons together.

Anything bigger than 3 solar masses will overcome neutron degeneracy, and collapse even further into a black hole.