Supermassive black holes (SMBHs) are colossal cosmic entities, typically residing at the core of the most massive galaxies. Their masses range from hundreds of thousands to billions of times that of our Sun, vastly surpassing the mass of individual stars. These gravitational giants play a pivotal role in influencing the dynamics and evolution of their host galaxies, shaping everything from galactic structure to star formation rates. The immense gravitational pull of SMBHs not only affects the immediate galactic environment but also dictates the behavior of nearby matter, including the accretion of gas, the formation of relativistic jets, and the overall growth of the galaxy over cosmic time.
« Back to Glossary Index
« Back to Glossary Index