Watch how massive star gets close to the supermassive black hole in the center of Milky Way

15. 12. 2021

Astronomers used connected VLT telescopes to look into the center of our galaxy with unprecedented detail. With 20 times bigger detail the new images show how star S29 got as close as 90 AU from the black hole this spring. New observations also revealed previously unknown star S300 and allowed scientists to estimate the mass of the black hole.

Center of Milky Way

Supermassive black hole in the middle of our galaxy has official designation Sagittarius A*. Several stars were identified in its neighborhood and their movements reveal information about the unseen behemoth at the center. New estimate for its weight is now 4.3 million solar masses.

4 connected VLT telescopes (Very Large Telescope) and new data processing brought mankind unprecedented detail of the central region of our galaxy. Astronomers were able to see haw star S29 flew by the black hole in record distance and speed.