Discovery of Massive Black Hole Gaia BH3
Ten U.S. and 2 United Arab Emirate astronauts have completed 2 years of training. Astronomers discovered a black hole with a mass 33 times greater than the sun, located 2,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Aquila. This black hole, named Gaia BH3, is the largest known stellar black hole in the Milky Way.
Key Points
- Black hole Gaia BH3 has a mass 33 times greater than the sun
- Located 2,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Aquila
- Companion star orbits Gaia BH3
- Gaia BH3 formed from a low metallicity star
- Gaia BH3's companion star is about 76% of the mass of the sun
Pros
- Discovery of a very massive and peculiar black hole in close proximity to Earth
- Supports stellar evolution models regarding the formation of massive stellar black holes
Cons
- Uncertainty regarding the maximum mass of a stellar black hole