At the center of our galaxy, an invisible black hole exerts a formidable attraction on everything around it.
The Very Large Telescope (VLT) of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) reveals the presence of a third gas cloud, named G2t, orbiting around Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole located at the heart of the Milky Way. This observation complements those of the G1 and G2 clouds, already identified previously.
A cluster of stars and gas surrounding the supermassive black hole of the Milky Way, known as Sagittarius A* or Sgr A*.
Credit: ESO/D. Ribeiro for the MPE GC team
For researchers, these three gas clouds would have a common origin: a pair of massive stars called IRS16SW. During its movement near the black hole, this stellar system would eject matter at slightly offset times, which would explain the distinct trajectories of the clouds. This explanation is found in an ESO press release accompanying the image.
Since even light cannot escape it, to examine a black hole, scientists use indirect methods such as observing the behavior of the matter surrounding it. In 2022, a historic image thus showed the radio waves emitted by the hot gases swirling at the edge of Sagittarius A*, offering a first visual glimpse.
These observations allow for deepening the understanding of extreme phenomena that occur at the center of galaxies like ours. The detection of G2t indicates that new structures can still be identified, even in a region scrutinized with attention for decades.
The examination of these gaseous clouds helps map the forces at play near the black hole. By following their movements, astronomers can deduce the properties of Sagittarius A* and neighboring stars. In the future, even more powerful instruments could reveal other details.