Astronomers detect fastest known star in Milky Way
Astronomers have identified S301, the fastest star ever recorded, orbiting the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* at the center of the Milky Way. Its extreme speed and proximity provide a unique opportunity to test Einstein's theory of general relativity.
Why it matters
This discovery allows scientists to study the fundamental properties of black holes and the behavior of spacetime in extreme environments.
Several stars orbiting Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy Several stars orbiting Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy Astronomy Astronomers detect fastest known star in Milky Way Star’s extreme proximity to Sagittarius A* means it could open new window onto black hole’s fundamental properties
Prefer the Guardian on Google Astronomers have detected the fastest known star in the Milky Way, hurtling around the supermassive black hole at the heart of the galaxy.
The star, called S301, travels at about 25,000km (15,500 miles) per second, 100,000 times faster than a commercial plane. It is also the closest known star to the Milky Way’s central black hole, Sagittarius A*, approaching it around the distance of Saturn to the Sun.
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