The attention of astrophysicists who gathered at the twenty-eighth session of the General Assembly of the International astronomical Union, was attracted to the unusual behavior of the recently opened a black hole average weight HLX-1. Around her newly formed blue glowing haze. This means that a unique space glutton again gathered to eat.

Needless to say, the heavenly life of stars as big as their terrestrial counterparts. Judge for yourself - astronomers are constantly peek behind them! Poor heavenly luminary neither plasma wind can't come quietly or explode humanly - scientists immediately aware of it and for a long time will wash the star of her bones on all kinds of congresses and symposia. In short, not life, but a torment.

However, for the sake of justice it should be noted that under the close supervision of scientists paparazzi are almost all objects near and far space. And black holes in this respect carries the same way as stars. However, their life more difficult. Astrophysics see every meal space sinks of matter and energy and then animatedly discussing their diet: when, by whom and how many poor black hole Breakfast were good enough.

And recently, at the 28th session of the General Assembly of the International astronomical Union is again the subject of discussion became a unique black hole HLX-1 and its regular menu. Australian scientists from the Astronomical Institute in Sydney said that she again began its annual Breakfast. They figured it, seeing that this black hole again vanished in a haze of blue lights, which is very clearly seen (because of the observed object is not in the body of the galactic disk, and a little above it). This happens with surprising accuracy - exactly every 366 days.

However, sometimes failures in eating schedule still happen. "This year she ate almost just. I started to worry a bit, because the cycle was delayed for three or four days", - commented the head of the group of astrophysicists Professor Roberto Soria.

It would seem that this so special? But who cares, just missed the black hole to Breakfast with everyone it happens. However, in this case the attention of astrophysicists because HLX-1 is a special object. She is the only currently known black hole of medium size (specifically, average weight). The existence of such carrion eaters scientists predicted a long time ago, but the first time such a black hole, managed to find only three years ago.

Let me remind you that until recently, astrophysicists were known only small black holes (from 2.5 to 5.6 the mass of the Sun) and supermassive (with a mass of about 105-1010 those of the Sun). You know, this gap between relatives in size and weight, it was rather difficult to explain. Some scientists have even suggested that the mechanism of their formation is different (that is actually different black holes are not relatives, they are very similar in properties). However, other researchers have argued that all this nonsense - in the Universe must be black holes of average weight, just not yet discovered.

Practice has shown that the right was the second. In summer 2009 a group of European astronomers under the leadership of physics Sean Farrell of the University of Leicester in the UK, studying archival data, obtained in the course of cosmic x-ray telescope XMM-Newton, has come across an unusual object that was registered on November 23, 2004. It is at a distance of 290 million light years from Earth near the galaxy ESO 243-49.

Researchers immediately suspected in this mysterious stranger black hole. The fact that the intensity of x-ray radiation that was emitted by this object, judging by the pictures, 260 million times the intensity of solar radiation. This usually occurs in the process of absorption of matter black space eater. However, at the same time was marked by a very low intensity of radio and optical radiation (for a supermassive black hole), which, however, was much higher than that demonstrate the small black holes. This got astrophysicists at the thought that they had found the long-awaited black hole of the intermediate mass of about 500 those of our Sun.

This discovery was so sensational that at that time many did not believe the scientists. But the group Farrell continued to study the mysterious object, and, in addition, it was joined by other teams of astronomers. And here this summer Japanese researchers from Keio University, led by Professor oku Tomoharu, using a ten-meter telescope'ASTE and 45-meter radio telescope NRO, was able to confirm the opening of colleagues. And soon the group Farrell was able to produce conclusive evidence that the black hole mass of about 500 Suns really exists.

Since then, astronomers around the world are closely watching this object - they are interested in everything that happens around HLX-1. Not surprisingly, as soon as the blue haze, which says that the black hole began to swallow some objects, it is immediately noticed. By the way, still no one can clearly explain why you receive this light.

Roberto Soria believes that it is caused by matter, every year falling on the black hole. And regulyarnosti happening due to the fact that the black gluttons have a companion. This is an ordinary star, moving around her eccentric orbit. Once a year, when the two friends are as close distance, the star loses part of its mass, which, being dispersed before disappear, starts to radiate this mysterious blue light, which is well seen terrestrial astronomers.

However, the discoverer HLX-1 Sean Farrell not agree with the hypothesis of his colleague. He suggests that is hardly the case in only one star, because the observed glow very bright. Apparently, the black hole in your Vremya captured on its orbit a whole crowd of young stars, and once a year absorbs one of them entirely.

Like it or not, is difficult to say. However menu annual luncheon, a unique black hole scientists to determine managed. It turns out that she prefers to Breakfast very young stars in their own juice...