Astronomers Measure Supermassive Black Hole Spinning at Quarter Light Speed

Researchers have discovered that the "wobble" of an accretion disk formed from a star ripped apart by a supermassive black hole can reveal the black hole's spin speed. This wobble, caused by the Lense-Thirring effect, was observed using NASA's NICER X-ray telescope. The findings suggest that the black hole involved in the event was spinning slower than expected, at less than 25% the speed of light. Future observations, particularly with the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory, could provide more insights into the spin distribution and evolution of supermassive black holes.