Runaway black hole

Observing a black hole and a companion star caroming through our galaxy, astronomers say they’ve found the best evidence to date that small black holes are born during supernova explosions.

KICKED AROUND. Illustration of a black hole and a companion star (yellow) bumped across the sky by a supernova explosion. European Space Agency/ NASA, Mirabel

The black hole and its partner, collectively known as GRO J1655-40, are streaking across the galaxy at 400,000 kilometers per hour, four times the average speed of neighboring stars.