What lies at the center of the Milky Way galaxy
A supermassive black hole lies at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, named Sagittarius A*. It is estimated to have a mass of about 4 million times that of the sun and is located around 26,000 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Sagittarius.
At the center of the Milky Way galaxy lies a supermassive black hole called Sagittarius A* (pronounced Sagittarius A-star). This black hole has a mass of about 4 million times that of our Sun and is located in the constellation Sagittarius, hence its name. It is estimated to be about 26,000 light-years away from Earth.
At the center of the Milky Way galaxy lies a supermassive black hole called Sagittarius A*. To understand how we know this, let's explore the process astronomers use to make such a discovery.
1. Observations: Astronomers use various telescopes to observe the objects in the night sky. To study the center of our galaxy, they utilize multiple methods, such as radio, infrared, and X-ray observations.
2. Stellar Orbits: By carefully observing the motion of stars at the galactic center over many years, astronomers can trace their paths. They found that these stars are revolving around an invisible object with immense gravitational pull.
3. High Velocities: The stars near the galactic center move at incredibly high velocities, suggesting the presence of a massive object that can generate such forces.
4. Polarized Emissions: Scientists have also detected polarized emissions from the galactic center, indicating the presence of a magnetic field characteristic of a supermassive black hole.
By studying these observations and analyzing the data collected, astronomers have concluded that a supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, resides at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, about 26,000 light-years away from Earth.