Which supermassive black hole is closest to Earth?
Quick Answer
The closest known supermassive black hole is Sagittarius A* at the center of the Milky Way, about 26,000 light-years away. It has a mass of roughly 4.3 million Suns.
The Full Story
Sagittarius A* is the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy and the nearest known one to Earth. It lies about 26,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius. Its mass is approximately 4.3 million solar masses. Astronomers confirmed its extreme gravity through decades of stellar-motion studies, especially observations of stars orbiting very close to the center. In 2022, the Event Horizon Telescope released the first image of its shadow.
Key Facts
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"The black hole at the center of our galaxy, finally seen."
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