Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Astronomers have identified the largest stellar black hole in the Milky Way, with a mass 33 times that of the Sun, as per a recent study.
Named Gaia BH3, the black hole was discovered "by chance" using data collected by the European Space Agency's Gaia mission, aimed at mapping the Milky Way galaxy.
Gaia BH3 is situated 2,000 light years away from Earth in the Aquila constellation, as determined by Gaia's precise telescope measurements.
By analysing star orbits and measuring the mass of their invisible companion, astronomers confirmed Gaia BH3's mass to be 33 times that of the Sun.
The discovery of such a high-mass black hole in close proximity was unexpected, marking a rare find in astronomical research, according to Pasquale Panuzzo from CNRS.
Ground-based telescopes provided further evidence of Gaia BH3's existence, showcasing its mass as significantly larger than other known stellar black holes in the Milky Way.
Scientists noticed a "wobbling" motion in a companion star orbiting the black hole, leading to the identification of Gaia BH3.
Stellar black holes form from the collapse of massive stars and are smaller than supermassive black holes. Gaia BH3, categorized as a "dormant" black hole, emits no X-rays due to its distance from its companion star.
Gaia mission, operational for the past decade, has significantly contributed to astronomical research, providing a 3D map of stars in the Milky Way, and identifying previously unknown black holes like Gaia BH3.