Sagittarius A*
Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) is a bright astronomical radio source at the center of the Milky Way. It is in the direction of the constellations Sagittarius and Scorpius.
| Saggitarius A* | |
|---|---|
 Saggitarius A* image by Chandra X-Ray Observatory | |
| Observation data | |
| Type | Radio source |
| Right ascension | 17h 45m 40.05s |
| Declination | ±-29° 00′ 27.9″ |
| Distance | 25900±1400 light years |
| Constellation | Saggitarius |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Notable features | Radio source in the center of the Milky Way |
| Other designations | Sgr A* |
| See also: Diffuse nebula, Lists of nebulae | |
The radio source is part of a larger astronomical feature known as Sagittarius A. Sagittarius A* is thought to be a supermassive black hole,[1][2][3] like those that are at the centers of most spiral and elliptical galaxies. Observations of the star S2 in orbit around Sagittarius A* were used to show the presence of the Milky Way's central supermassive black hole. This led to the conclusion that Sagittarius A* is the site of that black hole.[4][5]
Sagittarius A* Media
EHT Saggitarius A black hole
Chandra X-ray Observatory image of Sgr A*.
The diameter of Sagittarius A* is smaller than the orbit of Mercury.
ALMA observations of molecular-hydrogen-rich gas clouds, with the area around Sagittarius A* circled
Dusty cloud G2 passes the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way.
2013, detection of an unusually bright X-ray flare from Sgr A*
NuSTAR has captured these first, focused views of the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way in high-energy X-rays.
Magnetar found very close to the supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, at the center of the Milky Way galaxy
Inferred orbits of six stars around supermassive black hole candidate Sagittarius A* at the Milky Way's center
Stars moving around Sagittarius A*, 20-year timelapse, ending in 2018
Related pages
References
- ↑ Reynolds 2008
- ↑ Overbye, Dennis (8 June 2015). "Black Hole Hunters". NASA. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/09/science/black-hole-event-horizon-telescope.html. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
- ↑ Overbye, Dennis; Corum, Jonathan; Drakeford, Jason (8 June 2015). "Video: Peering Into a Black Hole". New York Times. . https://www.nytimes.com/video/science/100000003725182/peering-into-a-black-hole.html. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ↑ Henderson, Mark (December 9, 2008). Astronomers confirm black hole at the heart of the Milky Way. Times Online. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article5316001.ece. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ↑ Reynolds C. 2008. Astrophysics: bringing black holes into focus. Nature 455 (7209): 39–40. Bibcode:2008Natur.455...39R. doi:10.1038/455039a. PMID 18769426.
Other websites
Media related to Sagittarius A* at Wikimedia Commons