Astronomers Discover Record-Breaking Black Hole in Our Galaxy

Astronomers Discover Record-Breaking Black Hole in Our Galaxy

In a groundbreaking feat, astronomers have recently pinpointed the most massive stellar black hole ever discovered in our Milky Way galaxy. This behemoth was first noticed through the peculiar 'wobbling' it induces on its companion star's orbit, as recorded by the European Space Agency's Gaia mission. Through meticulous verification using data from the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (ESO's VLT) and other ground-based observatories, scientists determined its mass to be a staggering 33 times that of the Sun.

Stellar black holes, born from the collapse of massive stars, typically average around 10 solar masses in our galaxy. The previous heavyweight champion, Cygnus X-1, weighs in at 21 solar masses, making this newfound 33-solar-mass black hole a standout discovery.

What's equally striking is its proximity to us. Situated just 2000 light-years away in the constellation Aquila, it ranks as the second-closest known black hole to Earth. Named Gaia BH3 or BH3 for short, its detection came as a surprise during a routine review of Gaia observations.

To solidify their findings, astronomers analysed data from ground-based observatories, including ESO's VLT, utilizing the Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph (UVES) instrument. These observations unveiled crucial details about the companion star, aiding in precise mass measurement of BH3.

Similar massive black holes have been observed outside our galaxy, leading scientists to speculate about their formation from metal-poor stars with minimal heavy elements. The discovery of BH3's metal-poor companion star aligns with this theory, providing vital evidence.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, this groundbreaking study allows astronomers to delve into BH3's history and characteristics. Early access to the data enables immediate investigation, bypassing the full release planned for late 2025.

Further scrutiny of this system could unveil more about its evolution and the black hole itself. Instruments like GRAVITY on ESO's VLT Interferometer offer promise in studying BH3's interaction with its surroundings, shedding light on this captivating celestial entity.