The Galaxy’s Fastest Star Could Reveal the Secrets of a Supermassive Black Hole
SMRTR summary
A star is hurtling through the Milky Way at eight percent the speed of light, and the reason why is both spectacular and a little terrifying.
Astronomers have identified S301 as the fastest known star in our galaxy, screaming around Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the galaxy's center, at speeds topping 25,000 kilometers per second. For context, our own sun plods along at about 230 kilometers per second.
What makes S301's story even stranger is how it likely got there. Scientists believe it was once part of a binary star system, torn apart by the black hole's gravitational forces. Its companion was flung out of the galaxy entirely. S301 was captured.
Now, S301 may do something remarkable. Its orbit passes so close to Sagittarius A* that within the next decade, astronomers hope to measure the black hole's spin, a feat that would otherwise take centuries of observation using other stars.
S301 returns to its closest approach in 2031.
SMRTR provides this summary for quick context. The original article belongs to Wired.
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