Astronomers spot a wandering black hole 3,500 light-years from its galaxy's center

The tidal disruption event TDE 2023mfm, first detected by the Zwicky Transient Facility on June 28, 2023, has been traced to a massive black hole about 1.08 kiloparsecs (roughly 3,500 light-years) from its galaxy's center. The black hole is estimated at 1–10 million solar masses, and a faint radio signal appeared only about 991 days after the optical discovery.

• TDE 2023mfm was discovered on June 28, 2023, staying above half its peak brightness for nearly 48 days
• The black hole sits 1.08 kpc, or about 3,500 light-years, from the galaxy's center
• Its mass is estimated at 1–10 million solar masses, with no clear X-ray emission detected
• A faint radio signal emerged roughly 991 days after the optical discovery