In an astonishing revelation that could reshape our understanding of black holes, NASA scientists utilized both the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory to uncover a bizarre black hole turned sideways, lurking within the enigmatic galaxy known as NGC 5084. This finding, comparable to unraveling a narrative from a cosmic crime scene, has sparked the imaginations of astronomers and space enthusiasts alike.

A Mysterious Black Hole in NGC 5084

Located approximately 80 million light-years away in the Virgo constellation, NGC 5084 is a lenticular galaxy—shaped like a lens—hosting a black hole that rotates at an unexpected angle compared to the galaxy’s general structure. The team was initially alerted to the peculiarities of this black hole by detecting two intersecting plumes of plasma. These plumes form an unusual 'X' formation, something never before documented in astronomical observations.

Astrophysicist Pamela Marcum, a member of the research team from NASA's Ames Research Center, declared, "Detecting two pairs of X-ray plumes in one galaxy is exceptional. Their cross-shaped structure offers us unique insights into NGC 5084's history." The scientists propose that a cataclysmic event in the galaxy's past could have caused the black hole to tilt unexpectedly, reminiscent of a cosmic "hit and run."

Unveiling the 'X'