In the universe, black holes are one of the most curious, extraordinary and unusual entities. Many people do not know that our galaxy has a black hole at its center.
In this article we are going to tell you some of the Interesting facts about our galaxy's black hole.
Curiosities about black holes
It is impossible to observe a black hole directly.
The name black hole is due to the fact that light cannot escape its reach, since the speed required to do so exceeds the speed of light, which is considered impossible according to the laws of physics; Therefore, it does not emit light. However, we can observe the consequences of a black hole. By examining the area surrounding a black hole, we can witness its impact on the environment.
For example, a star can be seen to tear itself apart when it gets too close to a black hole. This phenomenon led to the first observations of a black hole, including images captured of the one in the galaxy M87.
At the center of the Milky Way, there is a black hole
There is no cause for concern. We are safe, as this supermassive black hole, known as Sagittarius A, It is located 25.000 light years from our position.
Stellar black holes form from dying stars
Stellar black hole formation occurs after the demise of extremely massive stars, as the star's gravity overcomes the inherent pressure that maintains its structure. When the pressure from nuclear reactions decreases, gravity causes the star's core to collapse, resulting in the outer layers being ejected into space in a phenomenon known as a supernova. The remaining core continues to collapse under immense density, ultimately creating a volumeless black hole.
The nature of black holes is relative
Imagine a scenario in which a person tragically falls into a black hole while an observer is present to witness this event. The observer would notice that the time experienced by the person falling into the black hole appears to slow down compared to his own time, effectively coming to a stop near the black hole. This phenomenon is explained in Einstein's theory of general relativity, which states that Time is influenced by the speed at which we travel, particularly at immense speeds approaching the speed of light.
It was not until the advent of X-ray astronomy that the first black hole was discovered.
Discovered in the 1960s, Cygnus X-1 was the first black hole identified and has a mass ten times that of the Sun.
Black holes only become dangerous when you get too close.
While it's generally safe to study black holes from afar, getting too close poses significant risks. This also suggests that a black hole is unlikely to swallow an entire universe.
A black hole is very close to Earth
A massive black hole has been found, which is approximately 12 times the mass of the Sun and is located close to our solar system, at a distance of only 1.550 light yearsThis black hole is accompanied by a star that looks a lot like our Sun.
Interesting facts about our galaxy's black hole
Our galaxy's black hole, known as Sagittarius A (Sgr A*), is one of the most fascinating objects in the universe. Located at the center of the Milky Way, About 26,000 light-years from Earth, this supermassive black hole has a mass equivalent to about 4 million times that of our Sun. Although the black hole itself does not emit light, we can infer its presence from the behavior of nearby stars, which orbit at incredibly high speeds due to its immense gravity.
One of the most interesting facts is that despite being so massive, Sagittarius A is relatively small in size. The event horizon, which is the boundary beyond which not even light can escape, is only about 24 million kilometers in diameter, which is huge in human terms, but tiny compared to its colossal mass.
Another curious fact is that this black hole seems to be “quiet” compared to other supermassive black holes. Although it may have been much more active in the past, it is not currently absorbing large amounts of material. This is a relief, since if Sagittarius A were in a more active phase, the amount of energy released could affect the conditions of life in our galaxy.
Also in 2022, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) managed to capture the first image of the shadow of Sagittarius A. Although the image is a bit blurry, it is an important milestone as it confirmed many theories about black holes, including their existence at the center of our galaxy.
Other curiosities of Sagittarius A
Stars close to Sagittarius A, known as “S stars,” are key to measuring the black hole’s mass. These stars have extremely fast and eccentric orbits. For example, the star S2, which is about 17 light-years from Sagittarius A, It completes an orbit in just 16 years and reaches speeds of up to 7,650 km/s (2.5% of the speed of light) at its closest point.
While supermassive black holes like Sagittarius A feed on gas, dust and stars that come too close, ours appears to be on a “diet.” It is thought to absorb only a small amount of matter, which could explain why it does not emit large jets of energy like other active black holes.
Despite the enormous mass of Sagittarius A, does not have a significant impact on the solar systemWe are far enough away that its gravitational influence does not noticeably affect the orbits of the planets or the conditions of life on Earth. In fact, the gravity of the black hole closest to the solar system (which is not supermassive) has more influence on us than Sagittarius A.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the curious facts about the black hole in our galaxy.