An X-ray outburst from the center of our galaxy is providing compelling new evidence that a monster black hole lurks at the Milky Way’s core.
Black hole (arrow) at our galaxy’s center. Baganoff et al./Nature
The high velocity of stars orbiting near the galactic center had already convinced astronomers of a supermassive black hole. To hold these stars in their orbits, the center must harbor an object equal in mass to 2.6
Log in
Subscribers, enter your e-mail address for full access to the Science News archives and digital editions.