WASHINGTON, D.C. – According to NASA, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy is spinning so rapidly that it is distorting spacetime into the shape of a rugby ball. This revelation comes after a comprehensive analysis of X-ray and radio measurements from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory.
The black hole, known as Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), is located approximately 26,000 light-years away from Earth. Scientists have yet to determine the exact rotational speed of Sgr A*, but they estimate that it weighs about four million times that of the Sun.
Using data from X-ray and radio measurements, researchers were able to calculate the spin rate of Sgr A* by observing the movement of materials towards and away from the black hole. The results indicated that the black hole is spinning at an incredibly fast pace, warping the spacetime around it.
Ruth Daly, lead author of the study from Penn State University, expressed that this new information may finally answer the question of how fast the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy is spinning.
The implications of a spinning black hole are vast, as it can serve as an important source of energy. Extraction of spin energy from these black holes can lead to powerful outflows in the form of jets, suggesting that Sgr A* may become more active in the future.
“We may be on the cusp of witnessing a significant change in Sgr A* as it becomes more active,” said Biny Sebastian, a co-author of the study from the University of Manitoba in Canada.
As the research continues, scientists hope to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of the black hole’s spin energy on the surrounding environment, providing valuable insights into the dynamics of the Milky Way’s center.