S301 Star Whirls Around Sagittarius A* Black Hole at 25,000 km/s, Discovered in 2023

Discovery of the S301 Star

According to Radiotrek — Світ: In 2023, astronomers identified a new star named S301 orbiting the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* at the heart of the Milky Way. This star travels at an astonishing speed of roughly 25,000 kilometers per second, exceeding 8% of the speed of light. S301 completes one full orbit around the black hole approximately every 8.7 years. At its closest approach, the star comes within about 12 astronomical units of Sagittarius A*.

Why Observing S301 Matters

Tracking S301’s motion provides researchers with a rare opportunity to test Einstein’s theory of general relativity and to measure the spin of Sagittarius A* over the next decade. The frame-dragging effect caused by the black hole’s rotation is a key phenomenon that observations of S301 could help clarify.

The star’s detection was made possible through a collaborative effort involving four major telescopes based in Chile. Scientists speculate that S301 may have once been part of a binary star system, which was disrupted after a close encounter with the black hole. While one star remained caught in a tight orbit, its companion might have been expelled from the Milky Way entirely. The star’s close orbit offers a unique window into the black hole’s gravitational influence and spin characteristics.

This discovery marks a significant advance in understanding the complex interactions between black holes and their surroundings. Moreover, stars like S301 serve as natural laboratories for studying gravity and physics under extreme conditions. Continued monitoring of S301 promises to yield valuable insights for astronomers and physicists working to unravel the universe’s deepest mysteries.