Scientists find closest star to the Milky Way's central black hole
Researchers have identified a new star on an extremely eccentric orbit around the Milky Way's supermassive black hole, Sgr A*. This proximity may yield the first measurements of the black hole's spin.
Scientists have discovered a new star orbiting the Milky Way's central supermassive black hole, Sgr A*, closer than any previously identified object. The star follows an extremely eccentric orbit, and its proximity to Sgr A* may allow for the first measurements of the black hole's spin.
Sgr A* has been known since the 1970s, but imaging it was only achieved in recent years. Until now, understanding of the black hole has relied on observing stars that orbit it, helping to estimate its mass and size. These stars have acted as instruments to peer into an environment otherwise difficult to study.
The newly discovered star is significant as it approaches Sgr A* much closer than previous observations. The masses of stars can be estimated based on their brightness and spectral features. By analyzing the orbits and masses of these stars, researchers have previously estimated Sgr A*'s mass to be nearly 10^37 kilograms.
Further study of this new, closer-orbiting star could provide crucial data on the black hole's physics, including the potential to measure its spin. Previous observations have already indicated a significant population of stars orbiting Sgr A*, and this new finding expands the understanding of this extreme environment.