In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers have spotted the most massive known stellar black hole in the Milky Way galaxy, located less than 2,000 light-years from Earth. This record-breaking black hole, with a mass approximately 10 times that of the sun, was detected through an unusual wobble in space, which indicated the presence of a massive, unseen object.
Detecting the Massive Black Hole
The black hole was discovered using a technique called astrometry, which measures the precise positions and movements of celestial objects. Astronomers noticed a slight wobble in the motion of a bright star, which they determined was caused by the gravitational pull of an unseen companion.
Calculating the Black Hole’s Mass
By analyzing the star’s orbit and the strength of the gravitational pull, the researchers were able to calculate the mass of the unseen object. They determined that it was a black hole with a mass approximately 10 times that of the sun, making it the most massive stellar black hole ever discovered in the Milky Way.
Implications for Understanding Black Hole Formation
This discovery has important implications for our understanding of black hole formation and evolution. Stellar black holes are typically formed when a massive star collapses at the end of its life, but the existence of such a massive black hole challenges our current models of stellar evolution.