List of most massive black holes

An artist's impression of a black hole in front of the Large Magellanic Cloud

This is a list of the most massive known black holes, measured in units of solar masses (M☉), or the mass of the Sun (approx. 2×1030 kilograms).

Introduction

Unambiguous dynamical evidence for supermassive black holes (SMBH) exists only in a handful of galaxies;[1] these include the Milky Way, the Local Group galaxies M31 and M32, and a few galaxies beyond the Local Group, e.g. NGC 4395. In these galaxies, the mean square (or root mean square) velocities of the stars or gas rises as ~1/r near the center, indicating a central point mass. In all other galaxies observed to date, the rms velocities are flat, or even falling, toward the center, making it impossible to state with certainty that a supermassive black hole is present.[1] Nevertheless it is commonly accepted that the center of nearly every galaxy contains a supermassive black hole.[2] The reason for this assumption is the M-sigma relation, a tight (low scatter) relation between the mass of the hole in the ~10 galaxies with secure detections, and the velocity dispersion of the stars in the bulges of those galaxies.[3] This correlation, although based on just a handful of galaxies, suggests to many astronomers a strong connection between the formation of the black hole and the galaxy itself.[2]

Although SMBHs are currently theorized to exist in almost all massive galaxies, more massive black holes are rare; with only less than a few dozen have been discovered to date. There is extreme difficulty in determining a mass of a particular SMBH, and so they still remain in the field of open research. SMBHs with accurate masses are limited only to galaxies within the Laniakea Supercluster and to active galactic nuclei.

Another problem for this list is the method used in determining the mass. Such methods, such as broad emission-line reverberation mapping (BLRM), Doppler measurements, velocity dispersion, and the M-sigma relation are not yet been well established. Most of the time, the masses derived from the given methods contradict each other's values.

This list contains all black holes with precisely known masses. Most of this list is derived from the study of Bradley M. Peterson et al. using the BLRM method,[4] and the other from Charles Nelson using [OIII]λ5007 value and velocity dispersion.[5] Note that this list is very far from incomplete, as SDSS alone detected 200000 quasars, which may be likely the homes of billion-solar-mass black holes. Despite this, the majority of well-known black holes above 10 million M☉ are shown. Messier galaxies with precisely known black holes are all included.

List

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
List of the largest black holes
Black hole name Solar mass
(Sun = 1)		 Notes
Holmberg 15A 170000000000[6] Mass estimates range from ~310 billion M☉ down to 3 billion M☉. They all base on empirical scaling relations and are thus obtained from extrapolation and not from kinematical measurements.
S5 0014+813 40,000,000,000[7][8][9] Methods of estimating the mass of this black hole is poorly detailed due to the broad long wavelength emission lines and the extreme luminosity of the quasar.
SDSS J085543.40-001517.7 25000000000 Estimate ranges from 14 to 39 billion M☉
APM 08279+5255 23000000000[10]
NGC 4889 21000000000[11]Best fit: the estimate ranges from 6 billion to 37 billion M☉.[11]
Central black hole of Phoenix Cluster 20000000000[12] This black hole is continuously growing at the rate of 60 M☉ per year.
OJ 287 primary 18000000000[13] A smaller 100 million M☉ black hole orbits this black hole in a 12-year period.
SDSS J0100+2802 12000000000 Also the most luminous quasar known.
SDSS J013127.34-032100.1 11000000000
Central black hole of MS 0735.6+7421 10000000000 Produced a colossal AGN outburst after accreting 600 million M☉ worth of material.
Central black hole of RX J1532.9+3021 10000000000
QSO B2126-158 10000000000[7]
NGC 3842 9700000000[11] Brightest galaxy in the Leo Cluster
Messier 87 6300000000[14] Central galaxy of the Virgo Cluster; notable for its 4,300 light-year long relativistic jet.
QSO B0746+254 5000000000[7]
QSO B2149-306 5000000000[7]
NGC 1277 5000000000[15] Once thought to harbor a black hole so large that it contradicted modern galaxy formation and evolutionary theories,[16] re-analysis of the data revised it downward to roughly a third of the original estimate.[15]
Messier 60 4500000000[17]
QSO B0222+185 4000000000[7]
Hercules A (3C 348) 4000000000 Notable for its million light-year long relativistic jet.
QSO B0836+710 3000000000[7]
ULAS J1120+0641 2000000000[18][19] Also on record as the most distant quasar known, at z=7.085[18]
QSO 0537-286 2000000000[7]
NGC 3115 2000000000[20] Also the nearest known billion solar mass black hole, at 32 million light-years away.
Q0906+6930 2000000000[21] Most distant known blazar, at z = 5.47
QSO B0805+614 1500000000[7]
Messier 84 1500000000[22]
QSO B225155+2217 1000000000[7]
QSO B1210+330 1000000000[7]
NGC 6166 1000000000[23] Central galaxy of Abell 2199; notable for its hundred thousand light year long relativistic jet.
Cygnus A 1000000000 Brightest extrasolar radio source in the sky ad seen at frequencies above 1 GHz
Sombrero Galaxy 1000000000[24]
Markarian 501 900000000–3400000000[25] Brightest object in the sky in very high energy gamma rays.
PG 1426+015 (1.298±0.385)×109[4]
467740000[5]
3C 273 (8.86±1.87)×108[4]
550000000[5] 		Brightest quasar in the sky
Messier 49 560000000[26]
PG 0804+761 (6.93±0.83)×108[4]
190550000[5]
PG 1617+175 (5.94±1.38)×108[4]
275420000[5]
PG 1700+518 7.81+1.82
−1.65×108[4]
60260000[5]
NGC 4261 400000000[27] Notable for its 88000 light-year long relativistic jet.[28]
PG 1307+085 (4.4±1.23)×108[4]
281,840,000[5]
NGC 1275 340000000[29][30] Central galaxy of the Perseus Cluster
3C 390.3 (2.87±0.64)×108[4]
338840000[5]
II Zwicky 136 (4.57±0.55)×108[4]
144540000[5]
PG 0052+251 (3.69±0.76)×108[4]
218780000[5]
Messier 59 270,000,000[31] This black hole has a retrograde rotation.[32]
PG 1411+442 (4.43±1.46)×108[4]
79430000[5]
Markarian 876 (2.79±1.29)×108[4]
240000000[5]
Andromeda Galaxy 230000000
PG 0953+414 (2.76±0.59)×108[4]
182000000[5]
PG 0026+129 (3.93±0.96)×108[4]
53700000[5]
Fairall 9 (2.55±0.56)×108[4]
79430000[5]
Markarian 1095 (1.5±0.19)×108[4]
182000000[5]
Messier 105 140000000–200000000[33]
Markarian 509 (1.43±0.12)×108[4]
57550000[5]
OJ 287 secondary 100000000
RX J124236.9-1111935 100000000 Observed by the Chandra X-ray Observatory to be tidally disrupting a star.[34]
Messier 85 100000000[35]
NGC 5548 (6.71±0.26)×107[4]
123000000[5]
PG 1221+143 (1.46±0.44)×108[4]
40740000[5]
Messier 88 80000000[36]
Messier 81 (Bode's Galaxy) 70,000,000[37]
Markarian 771 (7.32±3.52)×107[4]
75860000[5]
Messier 58 70000000[38]
PG 0844+349 (9.24±3.81)×107[4]
21380000[5]
Centaurus A 55000000[39] Also notable for its million light-year long relativistic jet.[40]
Markarian 79 (5.24±1.44)×107[4]
52500000[5]
Messier 96 48000000[41] Estimates can be as low as 1.5 million solar masses
Markarian 817 (4.94±0.77)×107[4]
43650000[5]
NGC 3227 (4.22±2.14)×107[4]
38900000[5]
NGC 4151 primary 40000000[42][43]
3C 120 5.55+3.14
−2.25×107[4]
22900000[5]
Markarian 279 (3.49±0.92)×107[4]
41700000[5]
NGC 3516 (4.27±1.46)×107[4]
23000000[5]
NGC 863 (4.75±0.74)×107[4]
17700000[5]
Messier 82 (Cigar Galaxy) 30000000[44] Prototype starburst galaxy.[45]
Messier 108 24,000,000[46]
NGC 3783 (2.98±0.54)×107[4]
9300000[5]
Markarian 110 (2.51±0.61)×107[4]
5620000[5]
Markarian 335 (1.42±0.37)×107[4]
6310000[5]
NGC 4151 secondary 10000000[43]
NGC 7469 (12.2±1.4)×106[4]
6460000[5]
IC 4329 A 9.90+17.88
−11.88×106[4]
5010000[5]
NGC 4593 5.36+9.37
−6.95×106[4]
8130000[5]
Messier 61 5000000[47]
Messier 32 1500000–5000000 A dwarf satellite galaxy of the Andromeda Galaxy.
Sagittarius A* 4100000[48] The black hole at the Milky Way's center.
NGC 4051 (1.91±0.78)×106[4]
1300000[5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Merritt, David (2013). Dynamics and Evolution of Galactic Nuclei. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. p. 23. ISBN 9780691158600.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 King, Andrew (2003-09-15). "Black Holes, Galaxy Formation, and the MBH-σ Relation". The Astrophysical Journal Letters 596: L27–L29. arXiv:astro-ph/0308342. Bibcode:2003ApJ...596L..27K. doi:10.1086/379143.
  3. ↑ Ferrarese, Laura; Merritt, David (2000-08-10). "A Fundamental Relation between Supermassive Black Holes and Their Host Galaxies". The Astrophysical Journal (The American Astronomical Society) 539 (1): L9–12. arXiv:astro-ph/0006053. Bibcode:2000ApJ...539L...9F. doi:10.1086/312838.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 4.31 4.32 4.33 4.34 "Measuring the Masses of Supermassive Black Holes" (PDF).
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.27 5.28 5.29 5.30 5.31 5.32 5.33 5.34 "BLACK HOLE MASS, VELOCITY DISPERSION, AND THE RADIO SOURCE IN ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI" (PDF).
  6. ↑ O. López-Cruz; C. Añorve; M. Birkinshaw; D.M. Worrall; H.J. Ibarra-Medel; W.A. Barkhouse; J.P. Torres-Papaqui; V. Motta. "The Central Galaxy of Abell 85-The Largest Galaxy Core Ever Observed". arXiv:1405.7758.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 "Chasing the heaviest black holes in active galactic nuclei".
  8. ↑ Ghisellini, G.; Foschini, L. et al. (14 July 2009). "The blazar S5 0014+813: a real or apparent monster?". v2. arXiv:0906.0575 [astro-ph.CO].
  9. ↑ Extreme Cosmos: A Guided Tour of the Fastest, Brightest, Hottest, Heaviest, Oldest, and Most Amazing Aspects of Our Universe. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  10. ↑ Riechers, Dominik A.; Walter, Fabian; Carilli, Christopher L.; Lewis, Geraint F. (2009). "Imaging The Molecular Gas in a z = 3.9 Quasar Host Galaxy at 0."3 Resolution: A Central, Sub-Kiloparsec Scale Star Formation Reservoir in APM 08279+5255". The Astrophysical Journal 690 (1): 463–485. arXiv:0809.0754. Bibcode:2009ApJ...690..463R. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/690/1/463.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 McConnell, Nicholas J. (2011-12-08). "Two ten-billion-solar-mass black holes at the centres of giant elliptical galaxies". Nature. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-12-06. Retrieved 2011-12-06.
  12. ↑ M. McDonald, et al.; "A Massive, Cooling-Flow Induced Starburst in the Core of a Highly Luminous Galaxy Cluster", Nature, Aug 2012
  13. ↑ Shiga, David (10 January 2008). "Biggest black hole in the cosmos discovered". NewScientist.com news service.
  14. ↑ Walsh, Jonelle L.; Barth, Aaron J.; Ho, Luis C.; Sarzi, Marc (June 2013). "The M87 Black Hole Mass from Gas-dynamical Models of Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph Observations". The Astrophysical Journal 770 (2): 86. arXiv:1304.7273. Bibcode:2013ApJ...770...86W. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/770/2/86.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Emsellem, Eric (Aug 2013). "Is the black hole in NGC 1277 really overmassive?". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 433 (3): 1862–1870. arXiv:1305.3630. Bibcode:2013MNRAS.433.1862E. doi:10.1093/mnras/stt840.
  16. ↑ van den Bosch, Remco C. E. et al. (29 Nov 2012). "An over-massive black hole in the compact lenticular galaxy NGC 1277". Nature 491 (7426): 729–731. arXiv:1211.6429. Bibcode:2012Natur.491..729V. doi:10.1038/nature11592. Retrieved 29 Nov 2012.
  17. ↑ Juntai Shen; Karl Gebhardt (2010). "The Supermassive Black Hole and Dark Matter Halo of NGC 4649 (M60)". arXiv:0910.4168 [astro-ph].
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Daniel J. Mortlock; Stephen J. Warren; Bram P. Venemans et al. (2011). "A luminous quasar at a redshift of z = 7.085". Nature 474: 616–619. arXiv:1106.6088. Bibcode:2011Natur.474..616M. doi:10.1038/nature10159.
  19. ↑ John Matson (2011-06-29). "Brilliant, but Distant: Most Far-Flung Known Quasar Offers Glimpse into Early Universe". Scientific American. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  20. ↑ Kormendy, J. and Richstone, D. "Evidence for a supermassive black hole in NGC 3115", Astrophysical Journal, Part 1, vol. 393, no. 2, July 10, 1992, p. 559-578.
  21. ↑ Romani, Roger W. (2006). "The Spectral Energy Distribution of the High-z Blazar Q0906+6930". The Astronomical Journal 132 (5): 1959–1963. arXiv:astro-ph/0607581. Bibcode:2006AJ....132.1959R. doi:10.1086/508216.
  22. ↑ Bower, G.A. et al. (1998). "Kinematics of the Nuclear Ionized Gas in the Radio Galaxy M84 (NGC 4374)". Astrophysical Journal 492 (1): 111–114. arXiv:astro-ph/9710264. Bibcode:1998ApJ...492L.111B. doi:10.1086/311109.
  23. ↑ Di Matteo, Tiziana; Johnstone, Roderick M (March 8, 2001). "Accretion onto Nearby Supermassive Black Holes: Chandra Constraints on the Dominant Cluster Galaxy NGC 6166". The Astrophysical Journal 550: L19. arXiv:astro-ph/0012194. Bibcode:2001ApJ...550L..19D. doi:10.1086/319489.
  24. ↑ J. Kormendy; R. Bender; E. A. Ajhar; A. Dressler; S. M. Faber; K. Gebhardt; C. Grillmair; T. R. Lauer; D. Richstone; S. Tremaine (1996). "Hubble Space Telescope Spectroscopic Evidence for a 1 X 10 9 Msun Black Hole in NGC 4594". Astrophysical Journal Letters 473 (2): L91–L94. Bibcode:1996ApJ...473L..91K. doi:10.1086/310399.
  25. ↑ Rieger, F. M.; K. Mannheim (2 February 2008). "On the central black hole mass in Mkn 501" (PDF). Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  26. ↑ Loewenstein, Michael et al. (July 2001), "Chandra Limits on X-Ray Emission Associated with the Supermassive Black Holes in Three Giant Elliptical Galaxies", The Astrophysical Journal 555 (1): L21–L24, arXiv:astro-ph/0106326, Bibcode:2001ApJ...555L..21L, doi:10.1086/323157.
  27. ↑ "Massive Black Holes Dwell in Most Galaxies, According to Hubble Census". Hubblesite STScI-1997-01. 1997-01-13. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
  28. ↑ "The Giant Elliptical Galaxy NGC 4261". Astronomy 162 (Dept. Physics & Astronomy University of Tennessee). Retrieved 2010-05-02.
  29. ↑ Wilman, R. J.; Edge, A. C.; Johnstone, R. M. (2005). "The nature of the molecular gas system in the core of NGC 1275". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 359 (2): 755–764. arXiv:astro-ph/0502537. Bibcode:2005MNRAS.359..755W. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2005.08956.x.
  30. ↑ Wilman, R. J.; Edge, A. C.; Johnstone, R. M. (2005). "The nature of the molecular gas system in the core of NGC 1275". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 359 (2): 755–764. Bibcode:2005MNRAS.359..755W. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2005.08956.x.
  31. ↑ Wrobel, J. M.; Terashima, Y.; Ho, L. C. (2008). "Outflow-dominated Emission from the Quiescent Massive Black Holes in NGC 4621 and NGC 4697". The Astrophysical Journal 675 (2): 1041–1047. arXiv:0712.1308. Bibcode:2008ApJ...675.1041W. doi:10.1086/527542.
  32. ↑ Wernli, F.; Emsellem, E.; Copin, Y. (2001). "A 60 pc counter-rotating core in NGC 4621". Astronomy&Astrophysics 396: 73–81. arXiv:astro-ph/0209361. Bibcode:2002A&A...396...73W. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20021333.
  33. ↑ Thilker, David A.; Donovan, Jennifer; Schiminovich, David; Bianchi, Luciana; Boissier, Samuel; Gil de Paz; Armando; Madore, Barry F.; Martin, D. Christopher; Seibert, Mark (2009). "Massive star formation within the Leo 'primordial' ring". Nature 457 (7232): 990–993. Bibcode:2009Natur.457..990T. doi:10.1038/nature07780. PMID 19225520.
  34. ↑ Komossa, S.; Halpern, J.; Schartel, N.; Hasinger, G.; Santos-Lleo, M.; Predehl, P. (May 2004), "A Huge Drop in the X-Ray Luminosity of the Nonactive Galaxy RX J1242.6-1119A, and the First Postflare Spectrum: Testing the Tidal Disruption Scenario", The Astrophysical Journal Letters 603: L17–L20, arXiv:astro-ph/0402468, Bibcode:2004ApJ...603L..17K, doi:10.1086/382046
  35. ↑ Kormendy, John; Bender, Ralf (2009). "Correlations between Supermassive Black Holes, Velocity Dispersions, and Mass Deficits in Elliptical Galaxies with Cores". Astrophysical Journal Letters 691 (2): L142–L146. arXiv:0901.3778. Bibcode:2009ApJ...691L.142K. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/691/2/L142.
  36. ↑ Merloni, Andrea; Heinz, Sebastian; di Matteo, Tiziana (2003). "A Fundamental Plane of black hole activity". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 345 (4): 1057–1076. arXiv:astro-ph/0305261. Bibcode:2003MNRAS.345.1057M. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2966.2003.07017.x.
  37. ↑ N. Devereux; H. Ford; Z. Tsvetanov & J. Jocoby (2003). "STIS Spectroscopy of the Central 10 Parsecs of M81: Evidence for a Massive Black Hole". Astronomical Journal 125 (3): 1226–1235. Bibcode:2003AJ....125.1226D. doi:10.1086/367595.
  38. ↑ Merloni, Andrea; Heinz, Sebastian; di Matteo, Tiziana (2003). "A Fundamental Plane of black hole activity". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 345 (4): 1057–1076. arXiv:astro-ph/0305261. Bibcode:2003MNRAS.345.1057M. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2966.2003.07017.x.
  39. ↑ "Radio Telescopes Capture Best-Ever Snapshot of Black Hole Jets". NASA. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  40. ↑ "Astronomy Picture of the Day – Centaurus Radio Jets Rising". NASA. 2011-04-13. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
  41. ↑ Nowak, N. et al. (April 2010), "Do black hole masses scale with classical bulge luminosities only? The case of the two composite pseudo-bulge galaxies NGC 3368 and NGC 3489.", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 403 (2): 646–672, arXiv:0912.2511, Bibcode:2010MNRAS.403..646N, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.16167.x.
  42. ↑ "NGC 4151: An active black hole in the "Eye of Sauron"". Astronomy magazine. 2011-03-11. Retrieved 2011-03-14.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Bon; Jovanović; Marziani; Shapovalova; Bon; Borka Jovanović; Borka; Sulentic; Popović (2012). "The First Spectroscopically Resolved Sub-parsec Orbit of a Supermassive Binary Black Hole". arXiv:1209.4524 [astro-ph.HE].
  44. ↑ Gaffney, N. I.; Lester, D. F. & Telesco, C. M. (1993). "The stellar velocity dispersion in the nucleus of M82". Astrophysical Journal Letters 407: L57–L60. Bibcode:1993ApJ...407L..57G. doi:10.1086/186805.
  45. ↑ Barker, S.; de Grijs, R.; Cerviño, M. (2008). "Star cluster versus field star formation in the nucleus of the prototype starburst galaxy M 82". Astronomy and Astrophysics 484 (3): 711–720. arXiv:0804.1913. Bibcode:2008A&A...484..711B. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:200809653.
  46. ↑ Satyapal, S. et al. (2008). "Spitzer Uncovers Active Galactic Nuclei Missed by Optical Surveys in Seven Late-Type Galaxies". Astrophysical Journal 677 (2): 926–942. arXiv:0801.2759. Bibcode:2008ApJ...677..926S. doi:10.1086/529014.
  47. ↑ Pastorini, G.; Marconi, A.; Capetti, A.; Axon, D. J.; Alonso-Herrero, A.; Atkinson, J.; Batcheldor, D.; Carollo, C. M.; Collett, J.; Dressel, L.; Hughes, M. A.; Macchetto, D.; Maciejewski, W.; Sparks, W.; van der Marel, R. (2007). "Supermassive black holes in the Sbc spiral galaxies NGC 3310, NGC 4303 and NGC 4258". Astronomy and Astrophysics 469 (2): 405–423. arXiv:astro-ph/0703149. Bibcode:2007A&A...469..405P. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20066784.
  48. ↑ Ghez, A. M. et al. (2008). "Measuring Distance and Properties of the Milky Way's Central Supermassive Black Hole with Stellar Orbits". Astrophysical Journal 689 (2): 1044–1062. arXiv:0808.2870. Bibcode:2008ApJ...689.1044G. doi:10.1086/592738.