VLTI/Gravity provides first observation of material orbiting close to the point of no return

31/10/2018View on timeline
Simulation of Material Orbiting close to a Black Hole (Press Release Image)

ESO’s exquisitely sensitive GRAVITY instrument has added further evidence to the long-standing assumption that a supermassive black hole lurks in the centre of the Milky Way. New observations show clumps of gas swirling around at about 30% of the speed of light on a circular orbit just outside its event horizon — the first time material has been observed orbiting close to the point of no return, and the most detailed observations yet of material orbiting this close to a black hole.

— Press Release, linked below.

Most Detailed Observations of Material Orbiting close to a Black Hole

You can also read the original paper in which these conclusions were published:Detection of orbital motions near the last stable circular orbit of the massive black hole SgrA*, by...

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Published in 19/04/2019

Updated in 19/02/2021

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