Want to read Slashdot from your mobile device? Point it at m.slashdot.org and keep reading!

 



Forgot your password?
typodupeerror
Space Science

Supermassive Black Holes Not So Big After All 153

An anonymous reader writes "Supermassive black holes are between 2 and 10 times less massive than previously thought, according to new calculations published by German astrophysicists (abstract)."
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Supermassive Black Holes Not So Big After All

Comments Filter:
  • Re:Math? (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 17, 2011 @11:51AM (#35232626)

    Personally, I'm also bothered when I hear "5 times more". Is it 6 times as much or 5 times as much?

  • Re:Math? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by mangu ( 126918 ) on Thursday February 17, 2011 @12:19PM (#35233034)

    The translation from "two times less massive" to "less massive by a factor of two" is pretty straightforward and easily understood...

    The real problem happens in the opposite direction. A star that's 200% as massive as the sun is smaller than one that's 150% more massive than the sun, but many people will give the wrong answer if asked.

Promptness is its own reward, if one lives by the clock instead of the sword.

Working...