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

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