Astronomers Spot Closest Known Black Hole To Earth | HuffPost

Scientists reported Friday that this black hole is 10 times more massive than our sun. And it’s three times closer than the previous record-holder.

Marcia Dunn— AP

This illustration provided by NOIRLab in November 2022 depicts the closest black hole to Earth and its Sun-like companion star. (International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. da Silva/Spaceengine/M. Zamani via AP)

via Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Astronomers have discovered the closest known black hole to Earth, just 1,600 light-years away.

Scientists reported Friday that this black hole is 10 times more massive than our sun. And it’s three times closer than the previous record-holder.

It was identified by observing the motion of its companion star, which orbits the black hole at about the same distance as Earth orbits the sun.

The black hole was initially identified using the European Space Agency’s Gaia spacecraft, said Kareem El-Badry of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

El-Badry and his team followed up with the International Gemini Observatory in Hawaii to confirm their findings, which were published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

The researchers are uncertain how the system formed in the Milky Way. Named Gaia BH1, it’s located in the constellation Ophiuchus, the serpent-bearer.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.

Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

Images From NASA's Hubble Telescope

(01 of20)

(02 of20)

(credit:Credit: NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA))

(03 of20)

(credit:Credit: A. Caulet (ST-ECF, ESA) and NASA)

(04 of20)

(credit:Credit: NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA))

(05 of20)

(credit:Credit: NASA, ESA, and M. Livio and the Hubble 20th Anniversary Team (STScI))

(06 of20)

(credit:Credit: NASA, ESA, F. Paresce (INAF-IASF, Bologna, Italy), R. O'Connell (University of Virginia, Charlottesville))

(07 of20)

(credit:Credit: NASA, Andrew Fruchter and the ERO Team [Sylvia Baggett (STScI), Richard Hook (ST-ECF), Zoltan Levay (STScI)])

(08 of20)

(credit:Credit: NASA; ESA; Hans Van Winckel (Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium); and Martin Cohen (University of California, Berkeley))

(09 of20)

(credit:Credit: NASA, ESA, M. Livio and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA))

(10 of20)

(11 of20)

(12 of20)

(credit:Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team)

(13 of20)

(credit:Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team)

(14 of20)

(credit:Credit: NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) Acknowledgment: J. Gallagher (University of Wisconsin), M. Mountain (STScI), and P. Puxley (National Science Foundation))

(15 of20)

(credit:Credit: NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) Acknowledgment: A. Nota (STScI/ESA))

(16 of20)

(credit:Credit: E.J. Schreier (STScI), and NASA)

(17 of20)

(credit:Credit: NASA, ESA, SSC, CXC, and STScI)

(18 of20)

(credit:Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA))

(19 of20)

(credit:Credit: NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI))

(20 of20)

(credit:Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, J. Hester and P. Scowen (Arizona State University))

Suggest a correction

|

From Our Partner

HuffPost Shopping's
Best Finds

HuffPost Readers Love This Ultra-Comfortable Sneaker — And It Just Got An Upgrade

This Luxury Moisturizer Is Very Rarely On Sale — So Act Fast

This Affordable Drugstore Cream Might Be The Closest Thing To The Famous La Mer

This $4 Cat Toy Is 'Worth Its Weight In Gold' — And Behaviorists Say There's A Reason

The Most Comfortable Sandals For Walking All Day, According To Tour Guides Who Live In Them