Astronomers Just Found a Star System That Shouldn't Exist Near a Supermassive Black Hole
By University of Cologne
March 2, 2025
A binary star system in the center of the Milky Way provides new clues as to how stars form around the central black hole. Credit: NASA/CXC/MIT/F.K.Baganoff et al.
A team of astronomers has found the first binary star system, D9, near the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*.
Previously, scientists thought such systems couldn’t exist in this turbulent region. D9 is expected to merge into a single star soon, offering clues about the formation of young stars in this extreme environment.
First-Ever Binary Star Near a Supermassive Black Hole
An international team of researchers, led by PD Dr. Florian Peißker, has discovered the first binary star system near the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) at the center of our galaxy. While most stars in the universe form in pairs or groups, only five binary star systems have been confirmed near Sgr A*, and all are located at a greater distance. This newly identified system, named D9, is the closest yet. Scientists believe that D9 will eventually merge into a single star in the near future.
The findings, published in Nature Communications under the title “A binary system in the S cluster close to the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*,” provide new insights into the extreme conditions surrounding the Milky Way’s central black hole.
Observing the Stars Near Sgr A*
For the past 30 years, astronomers have used infrared telescopes to observe individual stars near Sgr A*. However, these observations have often raised more questions than answers. The central region of the galaxy is densely packed with millions of stars and is divided into different sub-regions.
One particularly intriguing area is the S star cluster, home to Sgr A*. Given the cluster’s high density, astronomers have long suspected it should contain multiple binary stars. Yet, until now, none had been detected in this region, with the previously known binary systems located farther from the black hole.
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