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Space researchers have observed a big increase in energy at the center of a distant galaxy caused by a very large black hole.
太空研究人员观测到，在一个遥远星系的中心，一个非常大的黑洞导致能量大幅增加。
They say the discovery could be meaningful for our own Milky Way galaxy.
他们表示，这一发现对我们自己的银河系可能具有重要意义。
In a recent research paper, space scientists said a huge black hole at the center of a galaxy called SDSS1335+0728 brightened by a large amount in several wavelengths of light.
在最近的一篇研究论文中，太空科学家们称，一个名为 SDSS1335+0728 的星系中心的巨大黑洞在几种波长的光线中都变亮了很多。
A black hole is a collapsed star or group of stars whose gravity is so great even light cannot escape.
黑洞是一种坍缩的恒星或恒星群，其引力非常大，甚至连光都无法逃脱。
The European Southern Observatory (or ESO) in Germany announced the discovery on June 18.
欧洲南方天文台（或ESO）于6月18日宣布了这一发现。
One explanation for the brightening of SDSS1335+0728 is that the black hole at its center is just “awakening”
SDSS1335+0728变亮的一种解释是，其中心的黑洞刚刚“苏醒”。
That means it is bringing in nearby material, which causes a huge release of energy.
这意味着它正在吸引附近的物质，这会导致巨大的能量释放。
Earth-based and orbiting telescopes were used to make observations of the galaxy.
用来观测星系的是以地球为基地的望远镜和轨道望远镜。
It is about 360 million light-years from Earth in the constellation of Virgo.
它距离地球约3.6亿光年，位于室女座。
A light year is the distance light travels in one year.
一光年是光在一年中传播的距离。
The black hole in the distant galaxy has the same mass as about one million suns.
在遥远星系中的黑洞，其质量与大约100万个太阳相同。
Because it is so massive, the black hole captures stars and any other material around it.
因为它是如此巨大，所以这个黑洞会捕获恒星和它周围的任何其他物质。
This material forms a structure called an “accretion disk” around the mouth of the black hole.
这种物质在黑洞的口周围形成了一种叫做“吸积盘”的结构。
The matter there reaches an extremely high temperature and can outshine the galaxy containing it. Scientists call this an “active galactic nucleus.”
那里的物质达到了极高的温度，甚至可以超过包含它的星系。科学家们将这种现象称为“活动星系核”。
Lorena Hernandez Garcia is with the University of Valparaiso in Chile and was a co-writer of the study.
洛雷娜·埃尔南德斯·加西亚就职于智利瓦尔帕莱索大学，也是这项研究的合著者。
She said sometimes black holes shoot jets of high-energy particles into space, but none has been identified in this case.
她说，有时黑洞会向太空喷射高能粒子，但这次没有发现。
Paula Sanchez Saez is an astrophysicist with the ESO and was the lead writer of the report.
保拉·桑切斯·萨埃斯是欧洲南方天文台的天体物理学家，也是该报告的主要作者。
She said this kind of galaxy nucleus releases huge amounts of energy including radio waves and gamma rays.
她表示这种星系核释放出包括无线电波和伽马射线在内的大量能量。
She also said the centers of galaxies such as these “are considered the most luminous objects in the universe.”
她还谈到，像这样的星系中心“被认为是宇宙中最明亮的物体。”
The change in the luminosity of the galactic center was first identified in 2019. It has been increasing since then.
银河系中心的光度变化于2019年首次被确认。从那时起，它一直在增加。
But exactly why this galaxy has become activated is unclear. “At the moment, we do not know,” Sanchez said.
但这个星系被激活的确切原因尚不清楚。桑切斯表示："目前，我们还不知道。"
“It could be a natural process of the galaxy,” Hernandez said adding, “We know that a galaxy passes through different phases of activity and non-activity during its lifetime.”
“这可能是星系的自然过程，”埃尔南德斯说，并补充道，“我们知道星系在其生命周期中会经历不同的活动和非活动阶段。”
The researchers say the latest discovery might be the awakening of a galactic nucleus or it might be a new kind of galactic event.
研究人员表示，最新的发现可能是星系核的觉醒，也可能是一种新型的星系事件。
Scientists say there is a huge black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. It is called Sagittarius A*. It is currently considered dormant, or asleep. But that could change.
科学家表示，银河系中心存在一个巨大的黑洞。叫做人马座A*。目前它被认为处于休眠状态，或者说在沉睡。但这种情况可能会改变。
Hernandez said, because it is 26,000 light-years away, such an event would likely not affect Earth.
赫尔南德斯说，因为它距离地球26000光年，所以这样的事件可能不会影响地球。
“…if it activates, we would not notice because we are very far from the center,” Hernandez noted.
埃尔南德斯指出：“……如果它被激活，我们不会注意到，因为我们离中心非常远。”
I’m Mario Ritter, Jr.
我是小马里奥·里特。
