Animation showing the locations and distances to some of our galaxy’s black holes
This artist’s animation, done with Space Engine, shows the locations and distances (in light-years [ly]) to some of our galaxy’s stellar black holes: Gaia BH3, a black hole now found to be the most massive stellar black hole ever identified; Cygnus X-1, the next most massive stellar black hole; and Gaia BH1, the closest black hole to Earth. At the centre of our galaxy, lurks Sagittarius A*, a supermassive black hole.
Note that, due to a projection effect, Gaia BH3 looks closer to the Sun than Gaia BH1, but in reality the former is further away. It’s the second-closest black hole to Earth identified to date.
Credit:ESO/L. Calçada/Space Engine (spaceengine.org)
About the Video
Id: | eso2408e |
Release date: | 16 April 2024, 09:00 |
Related releases: | eso2408 |
Duration: | 30 s |
Frame rate: | 25 fps |
About the Object
Name: | Gaia BH3 |
Type: | Milky Way : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Black Hole |
Category: | Quasars and Black Holes |