Astronomers Discover Massive Black Hole in Milky Way
A newly discovered black hole in the Milky Way, known as Gaia-BH3, has astounded scientists with its staggering mass of 33 times that of our sun. Located just 2,000 light-years away from Earth, Gaia-BH3 is now the second-closest black hole ever found.
This massive stellar black hole was detected using the European space telescope Gaia, marking a significant discovery in the field of astronomy. By observing the wobble in the motion of an old giant star in the constellation Aquila, the presence of Gaia-BH3 was confirmed.
The accurate measurement of Gaia-BH3’s mass by Gaia’s Black Hole Task Force showcases the existence of black holes of this size. This black hole is of particular interest to scientists as it is bound to be associated with a metal-poor star, suggesting that such stars can create black holes.
The discovery of Gaia-BH3 provides invaluable insights into the formation of dormant stellar black holes and paves the way for further discoveries. Future data releases from Gaia are expected to shed more light on the mysterious world of black holes.
Published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics on April 16, these research findings have captivated the scientific community with the unveiling of Gaia-BH3’s secrets. The study of this colossal black hole promises to unlock new realms of understanding about these enigmatic cosmic phenomena.
