Due to the lapse in federal government funding, NASA is not updating this website.

Suggested Searches

 

1 min read

Rogue Black Hole

The Hubble Space Telescope captured an image of a quasar named 3C 186 that is offset from the center of its galaxy. Astronomers hypothesize that this supermassive black hole was jettisoned from the center of its galaxy by the recoil from gravitational waves produced by the merging of two supermassive black holes.
  • Release Date
    March 23, 2017
  • Science Release
    Gravitational Wave Kicks Monster Black Hole Out Of Galactic Core
    Read the release
  • Credit
    NASA, ESA, STScI, and Goddard Space Flight Center/K. Jackson; Music: “Stealth Car” by Tom Sue [GEMA] and Zac Singer [GEMA]; Ed. Berlin Production Music/Universal Publishing Production Music GmbH GEMA; Berlin Production Music; Killer Tracks Production Music

Downloads

  • Transcript: Full Res
    pdf (48.76 KB)
  • 1280 × 720, 30 FPS
    mp4 (63.72 MB)
  • 1920 × 1080, 30 FPS
    mp4 (132.62 MB)
  • 640 × 360, 30 FPS
    mp4 (25.69 MB)

Related Images & Videos

Hubble Catches Runaway Quasar

Hubble Catches Runaway Quasar

This image, taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, reveals an unusual sight: a runaway quasar fleeing from its galaxy's central hub. A quasar is the visible, energetic signature of a black hole. Black holes cannot be observed directly, but they are the energy source at the...

Gravitational Waves Eject a Black Hole from Its Central Home

Gravitational Waves Eject a Black Hole from Its Central Home

This illustration shows how gravitational waves can propel a black hole from the center of a galaxy. The scenario begins in the first panel with the merger of two galaxies, each with a central black hole. In the second panel, the two black holes in the newly merged galaxy settle...

Scale and Compass Image for Quasar 3C 186

Scale and Compass Image for Quasar 3C 186

Share

Details

Last Updated
Aug 17, 2025
Contact
Media

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov

Related Terms

Keep Exploring

Discover More Topics From NASA

Hubble Space Telescope

Since its 1990 launch, the Hubble Space Telescope has changed our fundamental understanding of the universe.

Hubble Science Highlights

Hubble Images

Hubble News