In late 2019 the previously unremarkable galaxy SDSS1335+0728 suddenly started shining brighter than ever before. To understand why, astronomers have used data from several space and ground-based observatories, including the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT), to track how the galaxy’s brightness has varied. In a study out today, they conclude that they are witnessing changes never seen before in a galaxy — likely the result of the sudden awakening of the massive black hole at its core. Paula Sánchez, astronomer at ESO in Germany and at the Millennium Institute of Astrophysics MAS is the first author of this research, in which Lorena Hernández García, MAS - UV researcher, also participated.
