A streak of light may not be a black hole fleeing its galaxy after all
The trail of starlight may just be a spiral galaxy seen edge on
![A photo of stars with Galaxy IC 5249 in the center with a green oval around it.](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/050223_lk_starlight_feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
Galaxy IC 5249 (circled) is a spiral galaxy viewed edge on from Earth. That galaxy looks similar to a trail of light previously suggested to be stars that formed in the wake of a runaway black hole, casting doubt on the black hole’s existence, researchers say.
DSS2/STScI, UK Schmidt Telescope/AAO