UCLA astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery with the identification of a star, designated S0-102, that orbits the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy in just 11.5 years. This orbital period is the shortest known for any star in proximity to this black hole, which is located in the constellation Sagittarius. The findings were published on October 5 in the journal *Science*.
Research co-author Andrea Ghez, a UCLA professor and co-leader of the discovery team, emphasized that S0-102 could provide crucial insights into Albert Einstein’s theory regarding how black holes influence space and time. Ghez, who has been studying wstars around this black hole since 1995, noted that prior to this finding, only one other star, S0-2, had a notably short orbit of 16 years.
Ghez expressed her excitement about discovering two stars with such brief orbits, stating, “I’m extremely pleased to find two stars that orbit our galaxy’s supermassive black hole in much less than a human lifetime.” She highlighted that both stars’ movements will enable astronomers to better understand the geometry of space and time near a black hole, as their interactions provide a more comprehensive measurement than could be achieved with just one star.
The central black hole, weighing over 4 million times that of our sun, exerts immense gravitational forces that prevent light from escaping its grasp. Although black holes themselves are not directly observable, their effects on surrounding stars allow scientists to infer their presence and properties.
Researcher Leo Meyer, also part of Ghez’s team, pointed out the relevance of this discovery for modern technology: “Today, Einstein is in every iPhone because the GPS system would not work without his theory.” He noted that understanding how GPS functions near a black hole could have significant implications for our grasp of fundamental physics.
This discovery not only adds to the roster of known stars orbiting supermassive black holes but also enhances our understanding of gravitational dynamics in extreme environments—an area ripe for future exploration and research.
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